Artist: Abbashaitan
Country: Finland
Label: Worship Tapes
Formats: Demo Tape
Year: 2025
Although the band has already been around for a respectable amount of time, Abbashaitan’s first two demos, from 2017 and 2020 respectively, have remained completely under the radar for me. Even when the duo behind the band was active in quite a few other bands from Finland’s thriving underground scene (with activities in Riivaus, Nachtgnawer and Wömit Angel possibly being the most prominent), Abbashaitan’s name never surfaced. But although ‘Sorceritual’ is only released in 100 copies through the Worship Tapes label from Germany, it could very well be that Abbashaitan is finally getting more well-deserved attention.
The band’s first two outings were good but, honestly, maybe not very special. Listening to ‘Sorceritual’ it is clear from the start that the band made an impressive progression when it comes to song writing. Not only are the riffs much more convincing, the overall compositions are a clear step up from what the band laid on the table before. Still the majority of the music is rather natural-sounding amalgam between classic Norwegian and Finnish Black Metal. That same comparison is found in both the atmosphere and this demo’s production. Sometimes the music is slow and rocking, getting closer to Urgehal, but mostly it is a rather harmonious blend of organic riffs that exudes that classic 90’s Norwegian Black Metal atmosphere. Still, it feels like a thoroughly Finnish affair that would be appreciated by anyone who has a knack for Finnish Black Metal.
Maybe it is not as fierce and engaging as, say Satanic Warmaster, but it is clear that Abbashaitan is utilising many of the same ingredients and Heavy Metal song writing structures. But that is not where the comparison ends, also in the exact song writing itself there is a lot of Heavy Metal going on, the melodies and harmonies are a clear nod to the heydays of Epic Heavy Metal. something that seems to be increasingly raising its head these days. And of course this adds a lot to the overall musicality of the material offered which, all things considered, demonstrates a lot of creativity and musical understanding.
Admittedly, toward the end the whole thing does get a bit watered down, with the attention span noticeably waning. Still, this demo is undeniably a big step forward and it is to be hoped that Abbashaitan does not take another five years to come up with something new.
