Metal Storm logo
Abiotic - Ikigai review




Bandcamp music player
Reviewer:
8.0

47 users:
7.11
Band: Abiotic
Album: Ikigai
Release date: February 2021


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.


Rating breakdown
Performance: 10
Songwriting: 8
Originality: 7
Production: 9





Written on 06.06.2021 by I'm total pro; that's what I'm here for.


Comments

Comments: 6   Visited by: 142 users
06.06.2021 - 22:02
Rating: 8
Uxküll

Agree entirely with this review and the score.
----
"Nullum unquam exstitit magnum igenium sine aliqua dementia [there was never great genius without some madness]."

Best of Metal A-Z: http://metalstorm.net/users/lists.php?user_id=158339
Loading...
07.06.2021 - 06:46
Coconut Racecar

Need to give it some more spins, but I def liked these guys. Hadn't discovered them until they released this one.
Loading...
07.06.2021 - 13:46
UnknownCheese

Would be cooler if it did sound like Shin-ken.

They also have the worst merch. They'd be getting sued into oblivion if anyone cared about them.
Loading...
20.06.2021 - 05:27
Rating: 8
Troy Killjoy
perfunctionist
Written by Uxküll on 06.06.2021 at 22:02

Agree entirely with this review and the score.

You and I both seem to have a largely overlapping consensus when it comes to our opinions within the metal realm, though you may not realize that since you're the list maker and I'm the creepy lurker in the shadows watching from a distance.
----
"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
Loading...
20.06.2021 - 05:30
Rating: 8
Troy Killjoy
perfunctionist
Written by Coconut Racecar on 07.06.2021 at 06:46

Need to give it some more spins, but I def liked these guys. Hadn't discovered them until they released this one.

It's not exactly unique on a grand scale, but within their confines, I think this is a relative standout release. Similar in scope to Whitechapel's latest in that it follows a previously established sound while showcasing a sense of maturation in terms of technicality and songwriting proficiency without deviating too much from what makes them "them".
----
"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
Loading...
20.06.2021 - 18:09
Rating: 8
Uxküll

Written by Troy Killjoy on 20.06.2021 at 05:27

Written by Uxküll on 06.06.2021 at 22:02

Agree entirely with this review and the score.

You and I both seem to have a largely overlapping consensus when it comes to our opinions within the metal realm, though you may not realize that since you're the list maker and I'm the creepy lurker in the shadows watching from a distance.


Haha, you're far more active on this site than I am so I would hardly call you a lurker. Did you have any suggestions for additions to the list(s)? I know there are maybe too many of them to have the time to go through each.
----
"Nullum unquam exstitit magnum igenium sine aliqua dementia [there was never great genius without some madness]."

Best of Metal A-Z: http://metalstorm.net/users/lists.php?user_id=158339
Loading...

Hits total: 1767 | This month: 7