10. Abyssal
Current Release: Novit Enim Dominus Qui Sunt Eius. Label: Profound Lore Records After being one of the defining forces in extreme music in the early 90s, for many years in the late 90s and early 00s the UK death metal scene was relatively dormant, relying on wavering and aging flag bearers like Bolt Thrower and Napalm Death. But in the late 00s and in this current decade, the UK has come storming back with a throng of fresh and talented acts. With Binah, Mithras, Trifixion, Man Must Die, Porkfarm, Fleshrot, Parasitized, Detrimentium, Indesinence and Sarpanitum to name just a few, the scene is alive and kicking once again. Little is known about the band members in Abyssal, but I have a sneaking suspicion there are some ties to Binah and Indesinence due to the undulating, churning tones and cavernous vocals. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFoxRK8f4fw Having their self released debut Denouement recently re-issued via Hells Headbangers and Profound Lore picking up the rights to their latest album, Novit Enim Dominus Qui Sunt Eius, there's plenty of Abyssal to listen to in 2013, but listen at your own risk; Abyssal's tone's are are haunting, sprawling, muddy mix of profane black metal, mossy, dusty death metal and sickly ambiance that's sanity draining. Tracks like "The Moss Upon Our Ruins" from Denouement and nightmare-ish dirge of "Created Sick, Commanded to be Well" from Novit Enim Dominus Qui Sunt Eius create oppressive, atonal moods that recall the likes of Ulcerate on barbiturates, but fill in the cracks with a crisper blackened nihilism and ritualistic throes of Leviathan's early work.