I had this playing prior to reviewing pretty intensively over the Halloween weekend which is apt as these are songs that truly go bump in the night. Cult Italian act Abysmal Grief have been bringing the doom since 1996 and over that time have notched up a large array of releases leading up to this, their sixth full-length studio album. The quartet have been pretty consistent but for me gaps have been filled in by Regen Graves immersive, solo instrumental works which have crafted other fascinating and absorbing more ambient and electronic soundscapes. There are also ties to Tony Tears from him too and musically the group’s brand of gothic, horror doom stretches right back in time to the arcane and mysterious forerunners of the Italian scene. Abysmal Grief although macabre and ghoulish have a sense of humour though, at least I think they do and like, say Bloody Hammers their music is not exactly to be taken too seriously. Playing it backwards at midnight on the witching sabbat probably won’t involve you being stricken down by terrible curses or losing life or limb so perhaps it should be approached with the wise words “be afraid, be slightly afraid!”
After drenching us with a brief and zealous Baroque organ toccata the ‘Funeral Cult’ is unleashed with some witchy vocal sorcery and tried and tested through the ages, doom flare shuffling from guitar, drum and bass. It’s as ancient as religion itself and the beat is as infectious as any call to prayer. We the heathens are happy to worship at its font and groove on down as the rich melody seeps out. Of-course we need our own revered preacher man and here it is Labes C. Necrothytus whose eldritch tones cleanly growl and rasp getting ever more enthusiastic as the sermon continues. It should be noted he delivers in English too so there is no problem following his throaty oration which rises to evil cackles and roars. Wispy keyboards bring an air of theatricality to it all and Graves is happy to metalize things with some fluid guitar licks and histrionics. A leaden stomp surfaces and proto metal rhythm is injected into ‘The Mysteries Below’ and secrets of old are unveiled which are guaranteed to get the listener off their pews and dancing in the isles. We form a line and do the conga out the sacristy to snake among the tombstones during ‘The Graveyard Is Mine’. It’s a waltz among the spirits and you are encouraged to grab your cadaver by the hand and hope it doesn’t fall off during this desecrated rite.
We have a short interlude in the form of ‘Smell Of The Sacristy’ and before you can say “poo, that must be the altar boys again” the ‘Reign Of Silence’ is observed. Well actually it’s not quite silent, although Necrothytus leaves it to the others to jam away with grimly fiendish panache. He probably took the time out to change his frock after falling headlong down into an empty coffin; silly boy, does it every time! No real concern, he’s back in fine fettle for ‘Idolatry Of The Bones’ and so is a violinist giving this one a slow weeping and tenebrous vibe as it enshrouds you with funereal grace, complete with subtle backing choral chants. Soon the cock will be crowing and the dawn will replace the darkness of this dread night. Not before the epic 13-minute ‘Grim Arbiter’ has made their appearance though. Gravid vocals, swooning violin & grotesque keyboards make this last feast a grisly one. We have just about made it through the night intact.
Abysmal Grief have dished up both tricks and treats here and it has all been fiendishly good fun. As I slope off checking my diary though I notice that although I have safely escaped the clutches of these particular Italian’s I have a booking with The Theatres Des Vampires coming up in a couple of weeks; no doubt this will be a similar pain in the neck.
(7.5/10 Pete Woods)
https://sunandmoonrecords.bandcamp.com/album/funeral-cult-of-personality
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