The brutally majestic Aborted issues their newest EP, La Grande Mascarade, on Friday, April 17th, 2020, via Century Media Records.
Birthed in Belgium in 1995, Aborted is a Death Metal band with a taste for auditory slaughter and all the lyrical gore that accompanies it. Having released their debut full-length, The Purity of Perversion, in 1999, they have this followed up with a slew of darkly impressive material, including nine other albums, six EPs, and multiple live collections.
Currently consisting of Original Vocalist Sven De Caluwé, Drummer Ken Bedene, Bassist Stefano Franceschini, along with Guitarists Ian Jekelis and Harrison Patuto, Aborted is prepared to deliver their brand new EP, La Grande Mascarade. Featuring one previously unreleased track, along with two new offerings, the collection may be short in length but it’s chock-full of brutally satisfying quality.
The introductory song, “Gloom and The Art of Tribulation,” opens to a sound bite from the Horror classic Halloween (2007), as Dr. Samuel Loomis delves into his legendary monologue about Michael Myers. In the background, synths drop and piano keys patter in a quiet build into the forthcoming darkness. Then, guitars unleash in an unhinged psychopathy of dissonant melodies and rapid, ever-changing rhythm. Percussively, the track is eclectic and faster than a speeding train before it morphs into a hellish landscape of demonic cries.
For the second track, “Serpent of Depravity,” a punishing tapestry of guttural, layered screams are overlaid with inharmonious notes and powerful drums. De Caluwé’s vocals range from echoing cries to gremlin-like howls to banshee wails as the song grinds and splinters until it reaches its chaotic halting end. In its grand finale, “Funereal Malediction” completes the twisted trinity of tracks. The guitars twist and pulse in an unstoppable litany of chord work and thrashing drums, while a cacophony of voices scream in unison before the chorus takes hold. The breakdown is militant in its orchestration from the timing to the intensity.
In short, the La Grande Mascarade EP combines eerie darkness, hellish landscapes, and inharmonious moments to craft a sense of the funereal. With their intriguing blend of guttural screams, frenetic drum work, and chaotic guitars, each of the three tracks proves that Aborted are masters of their ferocious craft. Inspiring a sense of sonic awe and spine-tingling awesomeness, their latest offering is proof positive that Aborted knows what they are doing. For this, Cryptic Rock rates La Grande Mascarade 4 out of 5 stars.
){kind=link}