Abrams – In The Dark
Small Stone Recordings – 2022
Rock, Stoner, Grunge, Metal, Psych
Rated: *****
It’s been out since early September and of course rocked the Top 10 of the September Doom Charts and it has been rocking me to my very core for a while now, we’re talking about the fourth full-sized album In The Dark by Denver, Colorado foursome Abrams. Started off as a trio, it’s always been the core duo of bass/vocals Taylor Iversen and guitar/vocals Zachary Amster, but since their 2020 album Morning they found the perfect drumming fit: Ryan DeWitt. Joining on second guitar for the In The Dark record is Patrick Alberts, who you might know from metal, death, core outfit Call Of The Void and their damn fine 2019 album Buried In Light. And since the beginning of Abrams stems from that more core and sludge scene as well, you can safely bet that Patrick will be the perfect match. And, as opener Like Hell shows you, there shall immediately be no doubt whatsoever about that. In fact, the whole record sounds like the merging of four musical minds that together bring you heavy mojo of the brilliant kind! Like Hell, as we were beginning to state, is one of those perfect blast offs, those drums kicking it all off, that soaring guitar leading into the riff, waiting for those vocals riding the driving energy towards the logical conclusions, the way those vocals exchange the spotlight and propel you forward. Which is even more the case on the second track Death Tripper. Almost giving off the idea that Like Hell was meant to propel the cart up to the highest point of the rollercoaster, and that Death Tripper is you inside the cart, speeding through the coaster at full speed, hitting all the corners like a maniac. And third track Better Living is the end of the ride, you getting off, high on adrenaline, which serves as the idea that you might be off Better Living when not on chemistry, but high on life. Those first three tracks are so full of fire and are so memorable, it will take an absolute pounder to make you go forth. And guess what word you can easily throw that fourth track? Indeed, In the Clouds and its pounding, chugging opening has you running towards the edge of the cliff, standing there expecting to fly, and you will! After which the album opens up to implore even more melody and slow sloping tracks that take their time to build up to their powerful statements. And the way those massive walls of sound manage to sound so different with each approach, shot through with grunge, late punk and stoner influences. And yet also giving off some progressive and psychedelic atmospheres, making everything sound so magical, floating and also robust and layered, makes us hope that In The Dark is the Abrams that has found their sound, their way and the way forward. And you and I will surely be there along with them, getting high on whatever they throw at us…
(Written by JK)
Homepage
Bandcamp
Facebook
Instagram
