Abstract Violence, as the name suggests, is a band that stands for their violent and sophisticated art form of thrash metal. However, it falls short to an accurate representation, as Crossoverized is more of a straight-forward, adrenaline-driven ride for all the road warriors out there. Moreover, it is constructed with a short total running time, proposing it as a perfect morning stimulator to get you energized for a rough and hectic day ahead. Crossoverized is in simpler terms, brutality with grooves. Arguably, it is for those who demands fist-pumping aggression at a reasonable speed in order to comprehend all that madness. Abstract Violence are the new upstarts from the undergrounds of Greece and you may recognize them from their heavily studded and painted Venom jackets. Otherwise, the deeper you dig, the more you’ll find and get to know them - and they shall provide you with endless doses of thrash metal madness.
To start off, Crossoverized is united and proudly represented with the sounds of metal and punk. This crossing of territories is clearly not innovative in any way, since it is evident in the amounts of reiteration by various bands in the rudiments of the genre. Considering the fact that both metal and punk share an intimate relationship with one another, punk influences are definitely essential in the upstart of thrash metal. Thus, Abstract Violence paid their tribute in the form of Crossoverized, interpreting said phenomenon in their own way without sounding too pretentious or dishonest. For one, Crossoverized is littered with the spewing of saliva-saturated lines, and possesses this sort of outlaw-like quality. Crippler definitely lives up to his rightful name as his shouts are delivered with such punk attitude, it brings listeners to their knees and in the process, cripples them with his obvious D.R.I undertones. This has definitely helped to further propel Crossoverized in an authentic direction that is nourished with the true spirit of the olden days.
Now, what is of the sonic weapons that are presented in Crossoverized? Well, the guitar bears a rough and unpolished tone, unleashing a myriad of forward driving riffs and occasional, short bursts of solos rooted in high-frequency abuses. They are not the most outlandish and mind-blowing in terms of technicality, but they do the job well through and through. With that, they are also meticulously yet naturally timed so they do not sound forced and out of place. The bass, however, plays a safer role by following closely behind, pummelling only the most basic of lines which are definitely not fond of adventure. Moreover, its presence is not often felt in the backdrops – but this not of the highest importance here. I can honestly say that Crossoverized has been quite successful in its own ways, although it still contains some unconcealed flaws that can be found here and there. Remembrance is one faltering factor here, as listeners do not want to undergo just a simple thrash-out session. Instead, they would want one that is of high relation and one that is capable of sinking into their minds and at the same time, is able to influence them into revisiting it again and again. Thus, there is definitely a need for further development in the songwriting capabilities of Abstract Violence. With all that being said, Crossoverized is still a decent effort in creating new and devastating thrash metal sounds, and it is definitely worth checking out.
7/10
Check this out and listen to it for yourself:
http://youtu.be/PTbKhuGWuwA
About the Author
This is what I feel about my favourite genre in metal:
Black Metal is a timeless piece of magic(k)al art that is not limited by boundaries. Be it musical or aesthetics wise, it contains an honest and raw essence that is capable of not only satisfying the most abrasive of listening ears, but also an elevation to a higher state of transcendence. For years, the sphere of what we considered Black Metal has since expanded. It is mainly because of the myriads of influences that have been brought into the genre itself. Moreover, the influx of experimentations has rendered traditional Black Metal characteristics invalid. This is another trait that attracted me, for one, artists could then create their own art which allow the categorisation of Black Metal to be a certain state of emotional and feelings, rather than that of musical qualities. However, it is still mostly a personal experience to undergo. For the most part, it is different for everyone and I definitely respect that. Listening to Black Metal for me is like opening the floodgates to an ever-flowing source of energies where they are being channelled and manifested in the form of music which we are able to comprehend. Through passion and dedication, one will be able to realise the true potential of the magick that is in work. With that set into stone, the occurrence of change as we know it will be bestowed upon the listeners themselves where they will bask in all the glory and rewards. It is like an endless quest on the path towards spirituality.
Axis of Metal is me showing my appreciation to the music that has been keeping me alive. I also have a personal blog -Thelightoftheinvictus.tumblr.com which I write reviews for during my free time. I am always open to views, discussions and criticism. So, shoot me an email if you would like to talk :)
