EDITORIAL REVIEWS
Vinyl LP pressing. 2015 release from the death metal outfit. The problem of dropping a record as career-defining as 2013's Everblack is that the bar is set so high following it up is a galling task. The Black Dahlia Murder's response to such a challenge comes in the form of the devastating Abysmal. The album serves to once again demonstrate why they are considered one of the most vital bands in contemporary death metal. In tracking the record, the band re-enlisted producer Mark Lewis and former bass player Ryan Williams, who also helped engineer Everblack. Their intent to get away from the over sonic sterility affecting far too many contemporary metal albums. This is a prominent factor in why the record sounds as angry as it does, the band focusing on capturing a raw, live sound that doesn't always strive for absolute perfection.