This is the second album from Polish death/doom metallers Death Has Spoken who formed in 2017. Taking inspiration musically from bands such as Paradise Lost, Swallow The Sun, Hallatar and My Dying Bride to name but a few this 7 track album gives us just over 40 minutes of dark, melodic doom metal. I've got to hand it to these guys they are just as accomplished as their contemporaries. This album captures the imagination and emotional responses perfectly. Whilst it does convey elements of depression, bleakness and desolation it really carries you head long into it as an immersive experience rather then just another doom album.
Their first album Fade from 2017 is lyrically loosely based on novels written by Edgar Allan Poe and posed the question: Is death an end or a beginning? Call Of The Abyss is a continuation of this concept with the added inspiration of H.P Lovecraft to further the theme and takes it down a twisted route of mystery, cosmicism, decadence and destruction, which compliments the nostalgic elements of nineties doom, death and black metal. The opening track which is also the title track "Call Of The Abyss" is a steady paced melodic sequence with deep, dark booming vocals and an almost aquatic feel to it blending almost seamlessly into the pitch black "Lurking Fear". With a more foreboding and lingering musical style it has the second higher end guitar really cutting through. At an ambitious 7 minutes long "Woe" is of similar fare with a brightness that pushes through to give it a bold feel. The growling vocals telling stories of "Forbidden secrets, and unhuman land, where life and joy, died a long time ago." Midway through the album their instrumental track "Wilderness" has the most organic feel to it with a fantastic intro that transports you to a mysterious land of light and strange creatures as a creeping darkness approaches in the form of "Crawling To The Tomb". The desolate crushing drum beat and wonderfully dirty guitar sucks you in and spits you out the other end. The last 2 tracks "In Vain" and "Under The Flame" are the final bold statement pieces to the album which brings it to a triumphant end with clarity and the clash of cymbals.
The whole album has a kind of supernatural/spiritual feel to it with intros and elements incorporating soundbites from storms and natural disasters with guitar sounds that emanate seasonal changes very similar to bands like Wintersun. Incidentally the video to "Wilderness" is a drone shot winterscape over forests, mountains and streams which only enhances that feeling of a fantasy land.
Death Has Spoken have created a truely awe-inspiring album that has totally captured my imagination. They have a big sound for a 4 piece, the recording is spot on and you notice different elements on each repeat listen. Call Of The Abyss will become part of my collection as I feel I still have more to discover on this despite multiple listens already and I very much look forward to hearing more from them.
Call Of The Abyss is available on CD with lyrics and artwork booklet through Ossuary Records bandcamp page. Also check out their first album Fade and the split EP they did with Sun No More and Tankograd from 2020 entitled Unyielding.
