Artist: Abysmal Descent
Country: Belgium
Label: Nuclear Winter Records
Formats: LP / CD
Year: 2025
Although Abysmal Descent is a new band, the four musicians involved have been active in the Belgian underground scene for some time. A quick glance at the lineup reveals drummer Laye Louhenapessy (from Terrifiant, Putrid Offal, and Emptiness, as well as live drummer for Oerheks and Aerdryk) and singer Adrien Luxen (from Maleficence and Saqra’s Cult), among others. But although many of those names may not immediately ring a bell or spark enthusiasm, we can always rely on Nuclear Winter Records’ impeccable ear for Death Metal quality.
Death Metal may be the main focus of Abysmal Descent, but as is often the case with bands on the Nuclear Winter Records roster, it is not the only thing we are presented with here. Despite the sometimes considerable acceleration in the music, ‘Dismal Thoughts’ is peppered with an atmosphere of Death/Doom Metal. Musically, it falls somewhere between Incantation and Dismal on the one hand and Evoken or even a touch of diSEMBOWELMENT on the other. And, to complete the picture, there is also an undeniable hint of Black Metal darkness and atmosphere.
With all that in mind, it’s no surprise that Abysmal Descent has been given a place in the stables of the label run by the Dead Congregation mastermind. Because ‘Dismal Thoughts’ is reminiscent of these Greeks on several occasions and, with all of the above taken into account, is perhaps the band to which these Belgians can best be compared. Just listen to any song on the album: the many tempo changes, the open structure but heavy texture of the riffs and vocals are inextricably linked to the increasingly clear musical legacy of Dead Congregation, a band that now rightfully deserves to be called a modern Death Metal classic.
Anyone who enjoys the atmosphere, complexity, and unorthodox Death Metal of Dead Congregation, Grave Miasma, or perhaps Immolation would do well to give ‘Dismal Thoughts’ a chance. In this field, it is very difficult to reach the absolute top. That is not something Abysmal Descent has been able to do, but that does not detract from this more than satisfying debut album.
