Entry 002 - Absu - Barathrum: Vitriol

 

Absu is bizarre band, every album being different from the next. On Barathrum: V.I.T.R.I.O.L. they display a raw death metal style in stark contrast to the black metal they would develop on later albums.

This release is as experimental now as it was when it released. The riffs are raw but intricate, the vocals are a mid range growl (distinctly different to the much higher shrieks the band would evolve into). Orchestral arrangements, female vocals, dark ambient sections, sparse keyboards, various sound effects - all are added in at seemingly random intervals. It should be an awkward mess and yet somehow it works.

The album is just over 30 minutes long and that is about perfect for the haphazard style they have on display here. Anything longer would likely overstay its welcome very quickly. Not the strongest Absu release - and by far my least listened to. Still an interesting listen from time to time however.