KING ABYSS - SNAKE OIL (CROSSOVER THRASH/HARDCORE, REVIEW, INDEPENDENTLY RELEASED 2/24/23)

 

Originally posted around early Feb, 2023. Updated for the Bog.

Instantly accessible album, Bog fell deeper and deeper whilst forgetting the time. The title track 'Snake Oil' easily belongs in a Mad Max movie with thunderous riffs churning up a maelstrom of smoke and sand, whilst Max drives away incredibly quick to catch an episode of post apoc golf. 

King Abyss play a style of thrash rooted in the forebearers, but with recent purveyors of thrash metal.

Disdain displays a nice melodic edge both vocally and musically, highlighting there is much more to the band members creativity. It was a song certainly growing on Bog and is one of those hidden stand outs not to be overlooked

A Short Drop And A Sudden Stop takes up the pace again with a thrash/metallic hardcore feel.

Eyes Always Watching returns to the heavy hardcore/beatdown hardcore influence at the start of the song, then transitions to thrash riffage, but retains the hardcore vibe. Bog enjoyed Snake Oil journeying in a hardcore direction on later songs, but some metal heads may not like this. It depends on personal taste, but it was no problem for Bog. It isn't the fastest song, but certainly has the down tempo vibe from heavy hardcore.

If you like a band who are able to play both thrash and hardcore, then King Abyss are that kind of band. If they did just play the hardcore orientated songs, then they could easily play a hardcore fest, and no one would be aware of the thrash, and vice versa if they just played thrash. Bog thinks this will surprise a lot of people and gain a fan base from both, and hopefully generate some respect.

Nibiru. Bog doesn't come across too many references to the Anunnaki and Nibiru in metal and hardcore, but there are some bands who do it. Usually, Bog hears/see this much more in underground hip hop. The song has a slow melancholy build up with a fat riff dropping in, which returns back to the classic thrash influence. It is quite a long song clocking in around 9 minutes or so, but is a good musical showcase, and the guys are obviously not afraid to represent their love for music from more than one genre.

An instrumental outro serving as another example of how metal can be a great cinematic score.

Verdict: There are plenty of mosh songs for the pit, riffs to bang your head, speed, then some down and dirty hardcore too, so Snake Oil should appeal to a wide audience. Real solid to frighten your own reflection with.

Line-up:

Dom Bould - Vocals

Sam Bryan - Dan Houlbrooke

Sam Millard - Guitar

Harry Dale - Guitar

George Heathcote - Drums


Follow:

https://www.facebook.com/KingAbyssuk

https://www.instagram.com/kingabyssofficial/?hl=en

https://kingabyss.bandcamp.com/merch

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2lKNwIXOmA72nrxRa2YMqg?si=VEbawMY1TRC0dPcF62UefA

https://youtube.com/@kingabyss6196

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