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Horrorhammer

08.01.2016

580

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Release date: March 26th, 2007 Label: Tyrant Syndicate Type: Full-length Format: CD Catalog ID: CDVILEF165

In 2007 Abscess signed with Darkthrone's label Tyrant Syndicate Productions. Recorded and Mixed June 27th-July 1st 2006 at Prairie Sun Studios Cotati CA USA.

Band members

Clint Bower Guitars, Vocals

Danny Coralles Guitars

Chris Reifert Drums, Vocals

Joe Trevisano Bass

Miscellaneous staff

Dennis Dread Cover art

Adam Munoz Recording, Mixing

fot. Trine Paulsen Layout. Collaborates with Kim Sølve to create artwork.

Nancy Reifert Photography

fot. Kim Sølve Madsen Layout. Born 1978 in Oslo. Collaborates with Trine Paulsen to create artwork.

I'm a little surprised that the reviews for this record are mostly negative and the previous reviewers seem to want a different direction from Abscess. Taken on it's own merits, "Horrorhammer" is a completely solid, no bullshit death/punk record that simply gets the job done. Expecting more because of the pedigrees of Abscess's members (who have contributed to at least three classics: Death's "Scream Bloody Gore", Autopsy's "Severed Survival", and VON's "Satanic Blood Angel") is to miss the point. What you got here is a group of self-assured, nothing-to-prove death metal lifers playing a spread of genres that clearly inspired their earlier, more respected work. No new ground is being broken here but "Horrorhammer" is as comfortable as an old jean jacket. As far as the tracks go, "Poison Messiah" could have been an outtake from Chris Reifert's old band; it has the same mid-paced, roiling groove and swagger that was Autopsy's take on death metal. "When Witches Burn" is a doom/death beast, not too far off from the '70s tripping on Autopsy's "Retribution for the Dead" ep. It's not all self-cannibalism, though. "Hellhole" is a thrasher/proto-death number in the Sodom/Kreator-vein, but sludgified, with completely unhinged vocals from Mr. Reifert. The punk numbers tend to alienate the death metal die-hards but they fit seamlessly into the sickness. "Another Private Hell" is a mean and violent hardcore song that seems to heft some of the "fuck you" 'tude from hatemongers like Negative Approach while keeping it fuzzy and downtuned. Speaking of bands that embody the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" philosophy, it might be odd to cite the Ramones as an influence on a record as ugly and loose as this, but "Four Grey Walls" is four buzzsaw chords and a catchy refrain that (cleaned up a bit and given the right vocals) could almost pass for one of the tough late-80s Ramones tracks. You can probably play "spot the influence" on the rest of the tracks too but as you may see that, while certainly derivative, this is not simply a one-dimensional record. It's really an acknowledgement of all that was going on around the early death metal scene, a little nostalgic without any sappiness or attempts at recreating the past, a tribute of sorts to the influences on the old school from the people who know. Taken on those terms (and listened to blasting from a car stereo on the highway), "Horrorhammer" is a success.

Abscess / Bloodred Bacteria

06.01.2016

667

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Release date: May 25th, 2005 Label: Bestial Burst Type: Split Format: CD Catalog ID: BeBu-016

Part of Bestial Burst's Blood Beast Extreme Metal Series. The Abscess tracks also appeared on the Thirst for Blood, Hunger for Flesh compilation. track 7 translation from Japanese: "Vicissitude". Abscess Recorded and mixed on November 23rd 2002 at Woo Woo Studios (San Rafael, California). Bloodred Bacteria Drums & guitars recorded December 2001 at "The school Jens went one year to" Studio. Bass & vocals recorded January & February 2002 at "The Bedroom Halls".

Band members

Clint Bower Guitars

Danny Coralles Guitars

Chris Reifert Drums, vocals

Joe Trevisano Bass

Miscellaneous staff

Randall Rhodes Engineering, Photography

Oliver Sander Artwork, Layout

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-daf50maOk

I don't think you even need to listen to this CD to know everything that happens on it; by this point in Abscess' career they're just an Autopsy tribute band, and Bloodred Bacteria is a complete creative cipher that no one needs to hear. Opening with four tracks, Abscess does exactly the same thing they did through the entirety of their career but with a lot less enthusiasm: ripping off old Autopsy riffs with a hint more rock and roll to differentiate them. The production is cheap and cloudy, not that it matters: all the bland riffs are stolen from stuff Reifert played over but never used back in '91, little four-chord Celtic Frost things with no real creativity to them nor the atmosphere which defined Autopsy. Reifert sounds old and ragged, and the band's side as a whole is just uninspired and uninteresting. They probably should have hung it up a couple albums previous, but the dry, withered teet of Abscess was milked for long after this release.

Bloodred Bacteria is just meaningless; fast, brackish grind like the first Nasum album without any of the intelligent riffcraft and memorable songwriting. Maybe there's a hint of Agathocles there too, but this has none of that band's personality. Most of the riffs are swinging two or three chord things played quickly so you don't notice how simple everything is. Remember those short, brutal, riffless grind tracks on 'Inhale/Exhale'? Well this side is nothing but songs like those; there's no real songwriting, no real riffs, just a bunch of aimless blasting and sawing on the guitar. Admittedly, the opening riff to 'Golden Spoon' is kind of neat, but that alone isn't going to save a side of grind which was dated in '95. Also there's a pointless noise track in the middle of their side which just annoys me even more. I doubt they have anything to offer anywhere else in their career- this split feels like the vanity release of two bands that are BEST BROS or something rather than an attempt at something good for the audience.

Thirst for Blood, Hunger for Flesh

03.01.2016

640

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Release date: June 1st, 2004 Label: Necroharmonic Productions Type: Compilation Format: CD Catalog ID: SLEAZY 009

"Raw, Sick and Brutal Noize" demo - track 21

"Filthy Fucking Freaks" live demo - tracks 7, 12 & 17

"Throbbing Black Werebeast" 7" EP - tracks 1, 4, 8, 14, 18, 20 & 24

"Open Wound" demo - tracks 2, 10, 13 & 19

"Deranged" split 10" EP - tracks 3, 9 & 15

"Unreleased Studio 2000 Sessions" - tracks 11 & 23

"Unreleased Studio 2002 Sessions" - tracks 6, 16, 22 & 25 - also released on the 2005 split with Bloodred Bacteria

"Suicide Pact Unreleased" - track 5

Complete with full lyrics, line-up information, recording information for ALL tracks as well as some liner notes about the recording sessions by member of the band! "Drunken Mystery" is credited for bass on track # 18.

Miscellaneous staff

fot. Dennis Dread Cover art born 1972

fot. Daryl Kahan Layout

Chris Reifert Artwork

I'm ashamed to say this but I am only now getting around to listening to Abscess. It makes no sense really seeing as though Autopsy is my all time favorite death metal band and I hold Chris Reifert and company in high regard. I also enjoy the numerous side projects these guys are a part of namely The Ravenous, and EatMyFuk. So the fact that I have neglected this band until now is utterly mind boggling! Anyway personal regret aside, I am sitting here with my first Abscess cd and it is a compilation of most split, demo, ep, and vinyl only songs. Abscess's sound is very unique to me, if you were to take Autopsy and mix Black Flag you would begin to scratch the surface of what you have here. Death/punk is the name of the game, and this is some of the filthiest, nastiest, and ugly shit I have ever heard. The tempo of the songs range from fast (Swimming In Blood) to groovy and slow (To Die Again), so there is a lot of variation. The lead guitar work of Danny Coralles and Clint Bower is very good for this style and never gets boring. Reifert's drumming is also a highlight, he always knows the right fill and beat to play. I can't really comment on the bass it doesn't pop out except for that awesome solo in Leave The Skin. Vocally speaking this compilation is all over the place. Everything from deep guttural growls to maniacal yelling and shrieking can be heard. The lyrics have a tongue in cheek humor to them, they are over the top with topics that would make even the most die hard death metal freak cringe. This compilation is very solid it's like listening to Acts of the Unspeakable, Shitfun, Damaged, and Apocalyptic Raids all playing at once! I can't really expand on the production, every track is radically different, lets just say that these tracks are representative of their sound. They are supposed to sound nasty and raw and I feel the dirty production helps give the songs an identity. The only complaint I have is I wish that they would fix the track list. All these songs are broken up and spread all over the CD. Say for instance you wanted to listen to only the Open Wound demo well that means that you would have to skip from track 2 to track 9 to track 17 etc. It is a pain in the ass and I can't see any justification for it, but more often than not I do listen to this thing from start to finish anyway. This is a very solid compilation and a good starting point to get into Abscess. Bottom line is if you like Autopsy or any of the old school style of death metal, and you have an ear for some punk like Dead Kennedy’s, Black Flag, Minor Threat, and Earth A.D.-era Misfits then you will love this plain and simple.

Through the Cracks of Death

02.01.2016

405

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Release date: May 2002 Label: Peaceville Records Type: Full-length Format: CD Catalog ID: CDVILE116

Recorded and mixed at Different Fur (San Francisco, CA), January 19-27 and February 16, 2002. Produced by Abscess.

Band members

Clint Bower Guitars, Vocals, Bass (tracks 1, 3, 4 & 7)

Danny Coralles Guitars, Bass (tracks 6, 9 & 10)

Chris Reifert Drums, Vocals, Bass (tracks 2, 5, 8 & 11)

Miscellaneous staff

Michelle Hayes Photography

Miran Kim Artwork

Jon Mayer Engineering (assistant)

Adam Muñoz Engineering

Autopsy. There it is punters. Straight off the top of this review, the band name that just can’t be ignored or mentioned when talking about anything to do with Abscess. I was going to try attempt it, but realized what a ludicrous idea that would be. So why not get it out of the road first up. Of course, the whole Autopsy-Abscess link is damn hard to ignore when your label blazons the ‘ex-Autopsy’ sticker across the front of the jewel case. It’s been six long years since the demise of Autopsy, but the link remains as strong as ever when Abscess rears their ugly head. Not that the association is anything to be ashamed about, it’s just that Autopsy was such a major force on the gore/death metal scene, that Abscess by relation have been burdened with a weight of expectation that could be all too consuming. Fortunately, Chris Reifert and Danny Coralles (both ex-Autopsy) couldn’t care less. In fact, it appears they thrive on the whole Autopsy/Abscess link. As if they can ignore it anyway – they were Autopsy. And judging by the strength of ‘Through The Cracks of Death’, they’re obviously not worried about living up to expectations. This sounds like the best thing they have done since the days of ‘Mental Funeral’. As a Death Metal fan from its inception, it has always bothered me that I never quite ‘got’ Autopsy. Unlike countless other bands that played the Brutal factor in the early 90’s Autopsy was just that little too twisted and demented for me. It’s hard to put my finger on it, and even though I recognize their material as pretty much death metal classics, they just never clicked for me. Abscess gives me the same feeling. Oh, there is no question that TTCOD is one sick, psychologically deranged album –it’s loaded with a ripping production and highlights a caustic set of tracks that portray rough, raw and crazy guitar riffs, hyped up leads squeal away all over the place and a twisted cacophonous wall of noise is laid down in great style. Sometimes this band gives you the feeling that they are about to lose control of what they are doing, like the whole album is just about to implode under it’s own slacker brutality. It’s an insane show that is being put on here, and it’s a challenge for the listener to sit through the whole deal just to see what the band comes up with next. Clearly, this is Abscess’ most mature piece of work also. Lyrically, this is darker and weirder in a more psychologically deranged sense. Finally, the band seems to have grown out of the gross-out toilet humor of previous albums like ‘Urine Junkies and ‘Seminal Vampires & Maggotmen’. Hence tracks like ‘Raping the Multiverse’ and ‘Escalation of Violence’ take on a different slant. It’s all still very nasty and horrific, but in a more cerebral way (if that is possible? Huh?) Having said that, I find it all rather ho hum. Yep, its an enjoyable ride – fast and furious, demented and full of brutal music – extremely well done, there’s even a hint of melody within - but I won’t be playing this in a months time, let alone next year. Maybe it’s the cluttered, on the edge musicianship, or the typical, but tiresome bile infested vocals that Chris continues to spew forth. Or maybe, it’s the lack of truly memorable songs. I apologize if this has confused you somewhat, but just like Autopsy, I remain ambivalent about Abscess too. They may be up your Death Alley if any of the above has impressed you, but for me, I’ll skip it.

Abscess / Machetazo

01.01.2016

447

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Release date: 2001 Label: Ironia Records Type: Split Format: CD Limitation: 1000 copies Catalog ID: IRNCD 001

Release date: 2004 Label: Throne Records Format: 7" vinyl Catalog ID: CHAPTER 11

Machetazo tracks recorded at Treboada Studios in December 1998. Abscess tracks recorded at Spectrum, Oakland, CA. August 15/21, 1998. The tracks are from their "Open Wound" EP. 7" EP first presing 1000 copies, 300 on orange-clear vinyl. Released by Upground / Ironia (UPG 011, IRNCD 001)

Band members

Abscess

Clint Bower Guitars, Vocals

Danny Coralles Guitars

Chris Reifert Drums, Vocals

Joe Trevisano Bass

Machetazo

Chinín Bass, Vocals

fot. JM Dopico Drums, Vocals born 1973 in Spain (Coruña)

Nacho Guitar

Miscellaneous staff

Francisco Liaño Mixing, Mastering