ABOMINATOR - The Fire Brethren (12" LP)

For those steeped in the ancient metal underground, ABOMINATOR should require no introduction. Formed in 1994, the band - begun as a duo by vocalist / drummer Chris Volcano and guitarist Andrew Undertaker, which endures to this day - helped usher forth the now-renowned wave of Australian extremity that was so vital and violent throughout the '90s. From their initial demos in the mid '90s to successive albums for such legendary labels as Necropolis, Osmose, and Displeased, ABOMINATOR's brand of barbaric black / death metal was immediately recognizable and utterly uncompromising. And although lineup shuffles were aplenty, with former Bestial Warlust frontman Damon Bloodstorm manning the mic for a while, the duo of Volcano and Undertaker always sought the most extreme expression but always delivered it with finesse and even, daresay, class. No strictly gutter-dwelling noise for them; their heat-seeking missile of a sound was the embodiment of iron-fisted will.

And while it's been a whole decade since their last LP - 2015's Evil Proclaimed, the band's first album for longtime fans HELLS HEADBANGERS - ABOMINATOR return with renewed fury on The Fire Brethren. Evil Proclaimed was unique in that it likewise was nearly a decade after its predecessor, The Eternal Conflagration, but more so because it ranged ABOMINATOR's entire discography. Thus, it's not surprising that The Fire Brethren similarly follows suit: from the filth 'n' fury of their demo days to the mesmerizing jet-stream of their early 2000s work, their signature sound(s) is well accounted for, all bridged by a still-growing sense of dynamics and even the rare appearance of a (demonic) guitar lead. But, just as they did 30 years ago, Volcano and Undertaker wrote and recorded the entirety of The Fire Brethren all themselves - recording at multiple locations before deciding on Toyland Studio as the best place to forge the final sound - staying true to their original direction and the wider arc of '90s underground black / death. Mixing & mastering were handled by Adam Calaitzis, well known for producing many classic metal albums from Australia dating back to the early '90s. Completing the totality is iconic cover artwork from the legendary Chris Moyen, who forgoes his usual goat-warrior tropes in favor of a concept reminiscent of Necrolord's equally legendary art from the '90s.

All go, no slow, with the surprisingly Bolt Throwing "Sulphur From the Heavens" concluding the album in climactic fashion - ABOMINATOR have returned from the darkest past with The Fire Brethren!