German outfit ABYSSOUS released their debut "…Smouldering" back in September 2012. A 5 track demo tape, limited to 200 copies, can explain why just a few people knew about this one. Now, courtesy of Iron Bonehead Records, "…Smouldering" is out as a 12" LP, for all the world to revel in its "black vinyl greatness". This power trio from Hell, Jonty Lava on guitars, Assassor on drums and Deathtrader on bass and vocals, have crafted an excellent work in the art of Death Metal. Nowadays, the sub genre is already saturated. But in ABYSSOUS case, they set the example on how to remain true to their music without compromising their sound. They have created an excellent blend of slow to mid-paced old Death Metal à la OBITUARY, GRAVE and ASPHYX. But adding enough variation and a huge dark aura to remain original rather than mere copycats. I really don’t know if they were aiming for a particular atmosphere, but the combination of the songs and the dry production here just reeks of an ancient foul stench. The mix is decent. Every instrument is noticeable. The vocals are not growls, but deep grunts that side perfectly with the heavy bass guitar tone and the ear-piercing guitar sound. Personally, I would’ve put the drums higher in the mix, because sometimes they are a bit drowned. But the final product is raw and in your face. These guys know what they are doing with their instruments. Overall, the more the volume you put on "…Smouldering", the heavier it gets. And believe me, you need to listen to this at a decent volume for a better experience. Besides the demo tape, you also get two new songs recorded solely for this vinyl version, a 300g jacket with insert and a poster. Info on the band here: www.abyssous.de, www.facebook.com/abyssous. Or contact the label here: www.ironbonehead.de