Abkehr – In Blut
Taking their name from the German for estrangement or abandonment, Abkehr are a duo from Northern Germany specialising in black metal informed by mental and emotional collapse.
All the usual black metal trademarks are here. Buzzsaw guitars and snarled vocals that are as indecipherable as the band’s logo from Raash, blast beat drumming played at several hundred BPM by H. Away from the music, there is a minimalism to this, from the duo’s stage names to the album’s cover and the song titles (Abkehr I to IV).
With a sound recalling the likes of early Celtic Frost, Kreator, Darkthrone and Gorgoroth, this will clearly not be for everyone. This is extreme music that is destined to stay in the underground. That, no doubt, is the way Abkehr want it but, for those brave enough to give it a go, this is a fearsome, enjoyable and, at times, strangely beautiful racket.
7/10
