REVIEW: Balance Breach – Abyzmal

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Finnish up-and-coming metalcore unit BALANCE BREACH are back for round two with their sophomore album, “ABYZMAL.” The follow-up to their well-received debut, “Dead End Diaries” (2020), sees the Mikkeli-based band continuing to hone their craft to perfection by delivering hooky and dynamic metalcore bangers. “ABYZMAL” was released on May 26th, 2023, via Out of Line Music, and it is as melodic as it is heavy.

Whereas “Dead End Diaries” had a more experimental feel to it, as the band tried many different things to see what works best for them, “ABYZMAL” has a more streamlined approach, boasting a much more cohesive sound design. However, there’s enough variety within the songs to make each of them feel individual while also giving the album a great playability value, as the melodies flow neatly from song-to-song creating a roller-coaster ride –type of listening experience. This sense of melody comes in part from the backing keys and electronic elements that create more than just atmosphere (like on “Rust”); they also create a solid foundation on top of which the guitars, drums, and vocals can do their thing (see “Heart Like Siberia”). Sometimes the keys and the guitars join together to create a fuller soundscape. The main creators of melody, so to say, are the vocal lines and the guitars. Vocally, the way Aleksi Paasonen switches between beautiful cleans and a variety of harsh vocals gives the album texture and momentum. Instrumentally, there are also some guitar riffs and melodies on this album, courtesy of Terho Korhonen and Saku Heimonen, that are absolutely incredible.

These aspects may be the album’s biggest strengths but there’s no denying that “ABYZMAL” is more than the sum of its parts, because of how layered this album is – it is not driven by the guitar or vocals or any other instrument, but by how they all merge together to create a unified entity. This is achieved splendidly because the songwriting is more dynamic and the execution is more confident. This step-up in quality was pretty evident since the release of energy-bomb “Escapers of Paradise” in July 2021 and things only got better and better on the subsequent singles, especially on fierce yet melodic “Overthrown” and aggressive “Untouchable,” as their interior dynamics elevate the whole. Speaking of singles, both “The Spark” and personal favorite “Heart Like Siberia” have strong emotional undertones that come from the vocals and lyrics, while the instrumental sides only enhance this melancholy feel. On the other hand, “Empty Eyes” and “The Last Ember” highlight the band’s heavier sound with crunching guitar riffs, pounding drums, and some fast-paced vocals. Guest musician Florestan Durand’s guitar solo on “The Last Ember” is simply outstanding.

Elsewhere on the album, “Dark Glow” is equal parts heavy and melodic, with some vicious vocals and some electronic elements that add to the atmosphere and balance everything out. Props to Aleksi Paasonen and producer Rami Nykänen for the vocal layering in this track – it adds so much volume and darkness to the fold. “More than Machines” ebbs and flows between intense verses and a superb melodic chorus, while the vocal trade-off between cleans, harsh, and gutturals makes this one of the most vocally dynamic tracks on the album with a good headbanging rhythm to boot. On the softer and more atmospheric side of things, “Rust” is such an underrated highlight of the album, as it starts off on a gentle and emotional note, only to build up in intensity to an explosive mid-section while the keys and electronic elements dress everything in hazy sounds. Closing track “Epitaph” has a certain aura of vulnerability and melancholy to it in the way the guitars, vocals, and percussions come across as delicate and fragile. This is a very serene way to round off such an intense collection of songs.   

In conclusion, the promise showcased by BALANCE BREACH on their debut album really came to fruition on “ABYZMAL” and, at this pace, the sky is the limit for these talented Finns. In between the well-executed guitar riffs and leads, the big wall of drums, versatile vocals, and the melancholy ambiance that emanates from certain songs, this record is about as well-balanced as it gets for a sophomore album. The sound may be somewhat familiar but, on the upside, it is also fresh and nuanced. I don’t think I am over-reaching much when I say that this album may end up being a career-defining moment for the band, it’s that fucking good!

Written by Andrea Crow

Tracklist

1. Heart Like Siberia
2. Empty Eyes
3. Escapers Of Paradise
4. Dark Glow
5. Untouchable
6. The Spark
7. Rust
8. More Than Machines
9. Overthrown
10. The Last Ember (Feat. Novelists)
11. Epitaph

Lineup

Aleksi Paasonen – vocals
Terho Korhonen – guitars
Saku Heimonen – guitars
Joni Härkönen – bass
Antti Halonen – drums

Label

Out of Line Music

Links

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