[Album Review] Abramelin – Sins of the Father
Australian death metal veterans Abramelin are back, showing their commitment to quality over quantity in a massive way with their fourth album, Sins of the Father. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the name, Abramelin have been pushing the unleashing brutal death metal since the mid-90s—and even longer if you include their earlier incarnation as Archeon in 1988. For a group that’s spent over 30 years in the game, releasing only four full-length albums speaks volumes about their dedication to crafting albums that are powerful, uncompromising, and completely pulverizing.
Sins of the Father is everything you could want in a death metal release: a relentless, neck-breaking masterpiece dripping with horror-fuelled intensity. It’s got the gore-drenched lyrics, spine-chilling atmosphere, and raw aggression that make up the genre’s lifeblood, and it all comes wrapped in wickedly tight production. Every track here feels like it’s where it should be for maximum effect, and it’s clear that Abramelin haven’t lost an ounce of their fury.
The title track, Sins of the Father, was my favourite and I think one of the standouts off the album, a blackened death metal whirlwind with a riff so catchy you can’t help but headbang along. The groove-laden verse riff has an infectious bounce, and I do love when a riff has that simple double kick rock beat behind it. I can’t wait to see this song played live, and I know this one will be a crowd favourite too. This track is Abramelin at their finest, with a perfect mix of groove, aggression, and atmosphere.
One of the more humorously titled tracks I’ve ever heard of, The Gory Hole, gives a nod to the band’s dark sense of humour, balancing the brutal assault with a touch of levity. It’s clear that these guys know how to have fun even while unleashing some of the most intense music you’ll hear this year. What a title!
Abramelin’s blend of horror-infused death metal is uniquely Australian, a sound as unhinged as a psycho killer’s soundtrack as he tears through the Outback. Tracks like Conflagration of the Dreamers and Man’s Best Friend deliver massive, neck-snapping riffs that make this album truly brutal. The guitar work is unreal, with precise tremolo riffs, groove-laden passages, and complex fretwork that showcase the band’s technical prowess.
Last Rite slows things down for a moment, offering a haunting, melodic introduction that stands out as one of the more atmospheric moments on the album. But it’s not long before the track returns to a blistering pace. Deceased Estate follows with a melodic opening and an intense tapping solo, while Meet the Meat closes with an irresistibly bouncy riff that caps off this assault in style.
The album’s finale, You Feed, I Bleed, is the longest and most ambitious track, clocking in just under six minutes. It’s an epic ender, encapsulating everything Abramelin excels at: intensity, horror, and high-caliber musicianship.
In Sins of the Father, Abramelin deliver a record that is raw, powerful, and unforgivingly heavy, a true testament to the raw power of Aussie death metal.