Obsolescence leaps for the jugular right from the off, “Human Obsolescence” leaves no soul unscathed from its fierce opening riff along with Charles Elliott’s anguished howl summoning the end of humanity. Abysmal Dawn have always been able to deliver tight riffs in varying devastating speeds. Lead single of the album “Inanimate” is a perfect example of the juggernautesque feel that Abysmal Dawn seem to be able to conjure up at their whim. Nevertheless don’t mistake a change of tempo for anything less relentless.

With phenomenal musicianship throughout Abysmal Dawn prove that they most definitely deserve the recognition that they are due. A particular highlight of the band is their ability to slowly create riffs that will worm their way into your head. Fluid and dextrous song writing enables the band to seamlessly move from brooding chorus to lumbering verse but most importantly keeping the listener entertained. There are however only a few points where you can be temporarily lost which are soon beaten out of you with the arrival of vicious breakdown, take for example to the truly desolate chorus of “Devouring The Essence Of God”.

Harking back to the genius of a certain archetypal Florida death metal band and their Symbolic album, Obsolescence has a sense of purpose embalming its songs in with complete absolution. Made up of easily accessible but monumentally heavy riffs the band trudge forward. Able to combine finesse with sheer brute force the band write some truly arachnid like riffs. Throughout our morbid vision into a desolate future the songs themselves are written in a mature manner, avoiding simple stop start techniques that quite often bore the listener and instead maintain a fluidity.

Using simple but effective techniques ranging from the inclusion of a slide or the change from single notes to power chords they slowly build the tension. Charles Elliott’s otherworldly vocals are also in fairly good shape. Having had a lot of slack for his vocal delivery, its still not quite recognisable and as such can sometimes become a little bit of a background piece. Nevertheless the album is a fantastic example of truly staunch straight forward melodic death metal done to the absolute highest calibre. Our journey fades out the fantastically bleak “The Inevitable Return To Darkness” where the band gracefully exit.

Abysmal Dawn may have had a hard time climbing slowly but surely up the death metal ranks but Obsolescence is a true statement of intent, showing their peers they not only have the chops and song writing but the stead fast mentality of an already classic death metal act.