Death Metal is such a diverse genre which slips into so many other genres with relative ease but also has its own unique sound and feel. Whether it is brutal, traditional, USDM, UKDM, Melodic Death Metal or doom, black, grind or gore tinted, it has that signature intensity which sets it apart and currently, none seem to shine brighter than Belgium’s own Aborted.

I first discovered this band back in 2007 when they played Damnation Festival 2007 along with Kataklysm and strangely enough, nine years later, the two are touring once again! The Belgian five piece are uncompromising in their approach, laying waste with harsh vocals which are barked or guttrally smashed into you whilst the precise rhythm unit of the band lock everything down to lay a solid foundation for some real phenomenally heavy and brutal riff work. In all, its a band who after 20 years in existence, seem to have reached that point where it comes so easy to them. As a taster for what is to come and to celebrate 20 years in the DM scene, Aborted release Termination Redux, a short EP with all new brutal material. Are you ready for some blast beats?

Opening up with “Liberate Me Ex Infernus”, we have the usual introduction setting short sample intro track which sets the scene. With distorted voices and a sinister atmosphere, it would have served better just being a part of the track it leads into, but nevermind, it does the job well enough and as “Termination Redux” explodes into life, it is time to experience the full fury of Aborted. Opening up with a sheer wall of force, hitting like a sledgehammer to the skull, the blasting drums with evil sounding guitars crush all in their path with no remosre. The verse speeds things up significantly, the harshly delivered vocals create a maelstrom of chaos as they tear ahead and the delivery is just spot on. Precise rhythms, effortless blasting and brutal feeling riffery, its exactly what you expect from the band. Round the 2 minute mark, things take a sinister turn with a real malevolent sound and feel – a big breakdown section with haunting clean melodic lines over harsh vocals and a slower pace which brings a sense of unease. This slips into a fluid and flowing technical solo which in turn leads to a massive vocal roar which signals the return of the maelstrom , ending the track with an explosion of brutal proportions.

“Vestial Disfigurement Upon The Sacred Chantry” is furious from the off. The relentless blasting of the drums with intricate and pounding guitar riffs played at a rapid pace cuts through with little fuss or care for what is in its way and the venom in the vocal delivery is magnificent. With a wild and chaotic feel, it is unbelievably intense and heavy and that is just the opening minute! It slows slightly into a more controlled section which has a real thunderous feel to it and the guttral vocal stylings begin to rear their head once again, adding to the intense atmosphere. Speeding up again, the twisting, harmonic laden riffs up the frantic feel as they squeal out clearly between blasts and chugs and overall it has a fantastic no nonsense death metal groove to it.

“Bound In Acrimony” is another full force, relentless sonic assault with some serious power in it. The blistering pace from the off, provided by the furious blasting on the drums gives a real tightly controlled groove with an intense delivery. It doesn’t let up, from the thundering bass to the buzzing guitars and machine gun like drums, it just keeps on going, letting nothing get in its way, making for what could be a spectacular track in the live setting just for the sheer ferocity of it! Closing the EP is “The Holocaust Reincarnate”. Possibly the heaviest and most intense track on this short EP, the closing number has it all. Pounding bass which brings a heavy as fuck quality to the sound, really letting the low end thunder through whilst the buzzing guitars and drums bring the pace. Slipping into a full on audio-assault of death metal, the precise and rapid-fire groove just steamrollers everything in its path. Like a madman on PCP charging through the streets, shrugging off tasers and gunshots, the venomous delivery of the track pulls no punches and takes no shit! Even when it slows down with an ominous sounding breakdown, it has a full on headbang feel with plenty of slam styled riffs to keep the intensity going, occasionally broken up by sporadic bursts of pace and rapid riffery, leading into a technically sound solo over the controlled brutality to draw it to a close.

Overall, this isn’t just a stop-gap release. This is a signal of intent, a statement, something to show what 20 years of brutal and technical death metal can lead to. Termination Redux is a taste of what Aborted plan to bring to the table with their next full length release. Uncompromising, taking no prisoners and demonstrating why they are shown so much respect and admiration, Aborted have delivered once again. In roughly 15 minutes, the brutal Belgians have got 2016 off with a blastbeat and the coming tour with Kataklysm promises so much.

(8/10 Fraggle)

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