The Abbey – Word of Sin
Origin: Finland
Release: 17.02.2023
Label: Season Of Mist
Duration: 53:05
Genre: Progressive Doom Metal
The Abbey was by the Finnish multi-instrumentalist Jesse Heikkinen raised from the fire, with Natalie Koskinen von Shape of Despair is also a not entirely unknown singer on board. The whole concept behind the band and the debut album is influenced by occult and esoteric beliefs and organizations, one in particular Aleister Crowley.
Musically merging on Word of Sin dark rock and classic doom metal together. “The album was made for purely self-promotional reasons”says Jesse Heikkinen. “My music is the channel where I can be as true and authentic as possible. It’s also a reasonably safe way to explore and express the dark side of myself and the collective consciousness. Word of Sin may be tremendously dark work for a rock album, but for a doom metal album it’s pretty light!” Difficult and light at the same time – with this description every spiritualist will probably be very happy. But what regarding the genre fan who just wants to enjoy good music?
Pretty bewitched
The nine songs with a total playing time of 53 minutes are of course mostly in the low-tempo and mid-tempo range. It’s clearly not regarding showing what’s possible with the instruments – even if you can’t deny the professionalism of the musicians, of course. Much more is tried to create a gloomy and occult atmosphere in every second. The first release A Thousand Dead Witches is a driving stomper with old school flair, like you HERE can hear for yourself. Queen of Pain takes the same line towards the end of the album.
Most of the time, however, rather sluggish melodies with keyboards and hypnotic singing are in the foreground. Widow’s Will is a melancholic example of this, as is the balladesque one Starless. Thus has Weak right with his description, because the sound is actually not light fare, but it doesn’t boom out of the speakers, either.
Fare for genre enthusiasts
However, to find the entire season entertaining, you have to be a self-confessed genre fan. Those who are less deeply immersed in Doom realms will drift off into other thoughts at some point between the atmospheric passages and will not find the album as a whole consistently exciting. But that doesn’t matter, because despite the coherent concept, the songs can very well stand for themselves.
So we’re dealing with a successful debut album that won’t reach the general public, but should attract attention within the scene. Another connection with Aleister Crowley i.e., whose ideas were never compatible with the masses, but have always fascinated and therefore survived.
Conclusion
The Abbey make on their debut Word of Sin very much right. Here doom metal is mixed with occult rock, which sounds light as a feather and heavy at the same time. Genre fans will enjoy the entire season, but all metal and rockers who are not so fond of Doom will also be able to discover one or the other number for themselves. 7 / 10
Line Up
Henri Arvola – Bass
Jesse Heikkinen – Guitar, Keyboards, Percussions, Vocals
Natalie Koskinen – Life
Janne Markus – guitar
Vesa Ranta – drums
Tracklist
01. Rat King
02. A Thousand Dead Witches
03. Crystallion
04. Starless
05. Desert Temple
06. Widow’s Will
07. Queen of Pain
08. Old Ones: Prequel
09. Old Ones
Links
Facebook The Abbey
Instagram The Abbey
Also on Soundmagnet.eu
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Interview – Amaurot, Asked by Peter Svensson
Editorial recommendation – Dunbarrow – Proto Doom from Norway
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