Swiss/German metal band AD INFINITUM have fully shed the symphonic metal allure that defined their first couple of albums and since “Chapter III: Downfall” have fully embraced the sleek beauty of melody-driven modern metal. Their fourth studio offering, “Abyss,” came out on October 11, 2024, through Napalm Records and saw the band take on all of the genre’s trappings with moderate success.
Even though “Abyss” is the type of album where style reigns way above substance, it is still an enjoyable listen as, unsurprisingly, Melissa Bonny’s gorgeous mezzo-soprano voice helps a lot in selling the formula by delivering earworm melodies that burrow deep into the listener’s brain. The instrumental parts are also quite interesting at times though it mostly feels like Adrian Thessenvitz (guitars), Korbinian Benedict (bass), and Niklas Müller (drums) are more restrained than they were on “Chapter I: Monarchy” or even “Chapter II: Legacy” as their role is mainly to support the vocals without interfering too much with the melodies. First single released, “Outer Space,” as well as later album track “Parasite” are among the exceptions to this rule as on these songs the chugging guitars and drums pair well with Melissa Bonny’s dual vocal style of brutal harsh vox and ethereal clean vocals. Heavy yet melodic number “Aftermath” is not far behind though it is not as punchy and intense as the aforementioned two album highlights.
The pattern that the band uses is that of coupling downtuned guitars with djent riffage and poppy cleans with some growls sprinkled in for good measure. Some would call this mixture pop metal and I wouldn’t blame them for it; these songs are downright catchy and easy to listen to, which, unfortunately, makes them a bit forgettable. On the plus side, singles “My Halo” and “Follow Me Down” are everything modern melodic metal stands for as they offer fierce guitar riffs, soaring vocals, good melodic hooks, and great chorus sections that expand on the main melodies. Semi-ballad “Euphoria” has an otherworldly quality to it thanks to the subtle use of keys and Melissa Bonny’s beautiful vocal delivery that are only boosted by a rather great solo section that proves Adrian Thessenvitz’s (underutilized) skills. Up-tempo track “The One You’ll Hold On To” is another great melodic metal number as it boasts some groovy riffs and neat vocal hooks.
On the downside, “Surrender” is about as poppy as it can get with its uber-catchy melodies and synth-pop vibes though it has some harsh vocals and djenty riffs thrown into the mix that don’t really work well together as the balance between the pop and metal elements just isn’t there. Proper ballad “Anthem for the Broken” is not as emotional (or even melancholy) as I would like it to be which makes it fall flat for me, though I can connect to some of the lyrics (especially the chorus). Closing track, “Dead End,” doesn’t add anything new or exciting to the album; instead, it only rehashes the trademarks of the sound – a back-and-forth between cleans and harsh vocals, good enough instrumentals sections, and a synth-driven ambiance – that ultimately lead to a decent song, but nothing more.
An exercise in modern metal with a clear focus on melody, “Abyss” lacks the emotional depth that would make most songs more memorable and/or relatable. On top of that, AD INFINITUM’s shift towards a more accessible soundscape means that the guitars, bass, and drums are no longer on the same level of technicality as the vocals, which leads to a drop in the overall quality of the songs. However, the highlight and main strength of the album is Melissa Bonny, who carries these ten tracks with her usual charisma and solid vocal skills. For most of the album, the high points outweigh the negatives as AD INFINITUM have the skills to craft some rather cool songs. I hope they will balance out their formula for their next record because, when done right, melodic modern metal can be a really fun and high-energy genre.
Written by Andrea Crow
Tracklist
01. My Halo
02. Follow Me Down
03. Outer Space
04. Aftermath
05. Euphoria
06. Surrender
07. Anthem For The Broken
08. The One You’ll Hold On To
09. Parasite
10. Dead End
Lineup
Melissa Bonny – Vocals
Adrian Thessenvitz – Guitars
Korbinian Benedict – Bass
Niklas Müller – Drums
Label
Napalm Records
