Abysmal Dawn – Leveling the Plane of Existence (2011) [Relapse] // Grade: A

Not since Fondlecorpse’s Creature Gore was released in 2009 have I heard a good technical death metal album. Now I’m well aware that I probably missed a couple but I try to stay on top of death metal releases. There just seems to be so many OSDM throwbacks as of late that I feel like the technical death metal scene has been brushed under the carpet or locked up in a fruit cellar.

Abysmal Dawn’s third LP, Leveling The Plane Of Existence is by far their best work. The entire album is consistently creative with a production quality that’s unmatched by other modern acts. I’m still trying to nail down what makes the album so successful and it’s not an easy task. Maybe it’s because when you hear “technical death metal”, there are certain connotations that come to mind: over the top blast beats, precise riffs and high-production quality. Sure. Leveling The Plane Of Existence has all that but what makes it so great is that they’re all used sparingly.

Each track has its own identity with one of those elements taking the stage above the others; if that makes sense. Typically, technical death metal tries to stuff all its load into one package and that’s not the case here: there’s air to breath between tracks. “The Age of Ruin” and “Pixilated Ignorance” are straight fire-starters. Aggressive as all hell with the perfect vocals. When I mentioned Fondlecorpse, I wasn’t just name dropping! It’s brutal! For some of the old-school cats, you’ll also pick up hints from Morbid Angel and other acts like Suffocation: there’s something for everyone!

My favorite cut on the album is “In Service of Time”. Techy but not overdone riffs and precise as fuck vocal cuts and drums. “Rapture Renowned” delivers the blast beats, full force and after a track like that, you need some breathing room. “Our Primitive Nature” is there for that. A tribal drum fest that doesn’t drag on forever. It’s the perfect nest for “Perpetual Dormancy” to hatch. Raise those horns! The title track “Leveling The Plane of Existence” is catchy and will get lodged into your head like a battle ax.

What technical death metal album would be complete without some throwback riffs? “Manufactured Humanity” is there for ya. A collision of riffs sparks the flame and burns civilization to the ground! Another choice cut on the album and the only one that rivals “In Service of Time” is “My Own Savior”. Brutal as fuck and the vocals play up on that track-by-track individuality I referenced earlier. Leveling The Plane Of Existence calls in the doomsday device with “The Sleeper Awakens”, the final track. Albeit a bit too melodic for my taste, it’s the perfect way to end the album. No abrupt chopping off the beast’s neck here. If you’ve been pining for a great technical death metal album, don’t miss out on Leveling The Plane Of Existence!

- Prolly