Album Review: Unleash The Archers - Abyss

We have become well accustomed to concept albums in metal, which has been a decidedly mixed bag. I have my issues with the format, and how it's often executed, but if it gives bands more of a creative drive, then it's fine with me. There are exceptions to that, however, and this new album is one of them. "Abyss" is billed as a sequel to their previous record, which means that I, as someone who didn't listen to that record, either have to do the work of listening to another record just to listen to this one, or I will come in and out of this experience without a full understanding of the story. I doubt I would get that from the lyrics anyway, but the point of it is that I'm not sure how you make new fans by creating an album only fans you already have will fully understand.

Not helping matters, the record gets off to a slow start. "Waking Dream" is nearly four minutes of slow build and one repeated melody that's supposed to be a growing chant, but feels like a boring slog and a waste of time. The payoff isn't worth the time spent getting there. Then the title track follows, and while the band kicks into gear with some fast and intricate riffs, the vocal lines don't have much hook to them, and even when the chorus comes, the song feels a bit flat. Between these two tracks, we're ten minutes into the record, and there has been very little to grab hold of.

"Through Stars" follows with one of my least favorite tropes in the intro, where some simple ringing chords are played, and the drums pound away with a straight kick pattern that is better suited for a faster, heavier section. It makes even less sense once the song moves along, because it's very much a synth-ish almost 80s rock song. It's actually a cool sound, and it works for Brittney's vocals, other than that drum part.

There's a dichotomy running throughout the record, where the band is playing some involved music, but the vocals are usually subtle. The drumming pounds us over the head, the guitars play flurries of notes, and the melodies sort of float in the air, always a bit hazy and hard to decipher. Some of them are pretty, and they sound good when the song is playing, but they evaporate under the glare of the spotlight. That surely isn't helped when "Return To Me" turns over some of the main sections to growled vocals.

It's a bit odd how the band is obviously playing aggressively, and plenty of the record is fast-paced, but something in the production leaves it sounding soft anyway. The record doesn't sound as heavy as it probably is, and it's that lack of bite and grit that I think holds it back the most. All the work they're putting in doesn't feel substantial, because I'm expecting a harder and heavier sound, and it just doesn't come. This album is, if anything, a bit too polished.

Once it gets going, "Abyss" is a fine modern power metal album, all things considered. There are some good songs, and it's all played expertly. Maybe that's the problem, though. It comes so easily to the band that it almost feels like they're going through the motions. I'm not saying it's better when a band struggles, but it's hard to hear the fire and passion in this music. It just doesn't come through in the performances, and that lack of heart is what holds me back. "Abyss" is a rather sterile album that simply doesn't leave an impression on me.