At a chance recommendation of one of my best friends, I was introduced to An Abstract Illusion some three years or so ago. I was immediately hooked, as it would be obvious for someone with such an inclination for death metal. More particularly though, the melodic and progressive edge of their music was the actual selling point for me. Illuminate the Path became a regular record in my playlists for quite some time, especially the second track "An Abode of a God" with its thunderous and epic flourishes.
This kind of atmospheric death metal was something I somehow never really got into for whatever reason. The lack of notable representatives may also play a part in it. Anyway, time passes and I keep returning to Illuminate the Path in hopes of a follow up. Fairly recently I saw that the band announced Woe. My excitement skyrocketed so hard that I think I almost started sweating.
On my first listen of the record, I was pretty much slack jawed and stupefied. It's excessively exhaustive to attempt to dissect the record bit by bit, but that's what an album like this would truly warrant. For the sake of sanity and brevity I'll be taking a different approach.
About two dozen plus listens later, I conclude that Woe is simply monumental. There's no way around it. It boasts an atmosphere larger than life. It's massive and all-encompassing on what feels like a surreal scale.
The experience of taking the record in, is akin to being elevated into the upper echelons of the Olympian realm, in order to witness gods in their natural environments going through their respective tribulations. There’s something legendary about the story that’s being told across the album and it’s impossible to immortalize otherwise.
The sheer power with which this narrative is unfurled onto us can only be likened to the sublimation of myth into a palpable reality. Its authenticity bordering an unnerving character, with an organic flow as laminar as an isolated mountain stream of water.
On a technical level, the record makes wide leaps between styles, picking apart through vast sonic expanses to find what is best suited to adorn its megalithic body. From the flourishing and churning ending of “Slaves” which is beckoned to be by brilliant shredding and chugging riffs, to the almost tribal and dreadful break in the first quarter of “Tear Down This Holy Mountain”, or to the serene and almost symphonic demeanor of “Blomsterkrans” there’s no shortage of impressively diverse moods and textures.
It's also difficult to pick apart because while some of these moments stand on their own as glorious and beautiful, the rest only truly shine in the context of the musical journey as a whole. Taking into consideration as well that the entire album plays as a single monolithic piece, it’s obvious that it’s something that’s meant to be consumed attentively and with focus. Although, the true magic only reveals itself when you allow it all to consume you, instead of the other way around. Then you become fully attuned to the contents and you will revel in a wonder that’s second to none.
Woe is a progressive death metal extravaganza which is sure to enchant your senses and delight a heart that’s eagerly yearning for adventure. I could go on an entire series of rants about how and why this album is great, but I save those for my friends, because they’re kind of forced to listen to them, haha.
For you, listener to be, this will suffice and if you aren’t sold on what I have presented, maybe it’s not for you. However, if you have any inclination for progressive metal, Woe is a must listen. I’m still listening to it on repeat as I write this and somehow, I am not sick of it. I feel like I’m constantly revealing more facets and nuances in its body, which is nothing short of impressive.
Not only was the wait worth it with peak and stuffed, and not only is Woe orders of magnitude beyond its predecessor, we are graced with one of the greatest metal albums of this year and possibly, of this decade.
