OK let’s not even try to delude ourselves that we can write a review of an album that contains the names Chris Reifert and Danny Coralles and not mention Autopsy, so synonymous are these guys with their former band. Despite Abscess being a recording entity for some fifteen years they do seem to really be saddled with the second band syndrome, quite unfairly this particular scribes opinion, but the fact remains these guys could well be one of the undergrounds best kept secrets.

Abscess are not Autopsy that is the first thing to set straight and anyone looking for ‘Severed Survival’ mark II best look elsewhere. Abscess like Autopsy are most certainly safely entrenched in the Death Metal gore genre but do on occasion bring a whole host of influences to the party, no more so than this their latest release where we find some distinct Doom and Punk infused riffs finding their way into the mix.

The bands D.I.Y ethos of previous releases continues with some rather striking early eighties inspired art and a production quality of such murky proportions it is impossible to consider this was not by intent. Abscess really have bucked a trend for super polished pro-tool heavy production and have taken their music right back to almost the garage days of Death Metal. “Dawn Of Inhumanity” is striking in a number of facets most notably being it’s experimentation, which will either be interpreted as a bold step in knocking down genre barriers or as a sloppy attempt to try and appeal to as wide an audience as possible.

“Torn From Tomorrow” is a Punk infused knuckle-duster of a song that surprises as well as decimates, while the likes of like “Never Sane Again” could almost be described as Stoner influenced. This melting pot approach to writing does create the odd turkey, “The Rotting Land” being a case in point but overall the album has merit. Abscess have most certainly looked to progress from 2007’s “Horrorhammer” opus and push the creative envelope all be it with some mixed success. However at this point in his career I’m sure Chris Reifert is looking for plaudits or assurances his music is valid, but rather to create music with the same endgame…..songs capable to shock, stun and tare your skin from your bones; and to this end “Dawn Of Inhumanity” does what it set out to achieve.