Band:	Abiotic
Album:	Ikigai
Style:	Technical death metal, Progressive deathcore
Release date:	February 12, 2021
A review by:	Troy Killjoy

01. Natsukashii
02. Ikigai
03. Covered The Cold Earth
04. Smoldered [feat. Chaney Crabb]
05. The Wrath
06. If I Do Die [feat. Brandon Ellis]
07. Souvenir Of Skin [feat. Trevor Strnad]
08. Her Opus Mangled [feat. Jared Smith]
09. The Horadric Cube [feat. Scott Carstairs]
10. Grief Eater, Tear Drinker [feat. Jonathan Carpenter]
11. Gyokusai

You would be forgiven if you made the ignorant assumption that this would sound anything like Persefone's Shin-Ken based on the cover art.

You would also be forgiven if you forgot about a once-burgeoning technical deathcore band by the name of Abiotic blowing up the scene just shy of a decade ago before undergoing a breakup they've recovered from recently.

Featuring all the bells and whistles expected of those genre tags, with its janky stop-and-start staccato riffs and a systematic showcase of expeditious melody, Ikigai illustrates the band in its most potent form to date. With a refreshing sense of inspiration, alongside new additions to the lineup, there is plenty by way of evolutionary progress to absorb for anyone even halfway following the band's progression over the years, and at the very least presents itself as an interesting project worth exploring to those attracted by concept albums and impressive displays of technicality in general.

Heavily driven by its rhythm section, particularly with respect to the advanced bass techniques provided by Scale The Summit newcomer Kilian Duarte, Ikigai serves as a healthy reminder that traditional Japanese music influences almost always blend seamlessly with the world of metal, string sections and piano passages forming a beautiful symbiotic relationship when allowed to develop organically. It speaks to the songwriting capabilities of each member that not only do they maintain this difficult balance, but do so without sacrificing the core Abiotic style. The bevy of guest spots occupied by equally talented musicians from the likes of Fallujah, Archspire, and The Black Dahlia Murder/Arsis should prove another solid indicator of the quality of content on hand.

Considering the level of intricate detailing involved in the writing process, it isn't surprising that every aspect of the band's sound is essentially amplified compared to their previous works. This can feel rather overwhelming for a full playthrough, as if listening to Casuistry on Samurai-brand steroids. It's a mild detractor that slightly interrupts the natural song-by-song flow of the album, but the musicianship and songwriting is so simultaneously precise and engaging that you won't even notice the 50 minutes ticking away.