“Surreptitious shame runs through these veins.”
Canadian chaotic hardcore act Abrupt Decay made a surprising return earlier in the year with the announcement of a vinyl pressing of their 2023 sleeper hit EP As It Came For Me, So Shall It Come For You., which was accompanied by the release of a new, previously unheard track. Now, looking to etch their names in the annals of modern grindcore, they’re coming out swinging with their sophomore album The Illusion Of Our Choices In A World Of No Options, which promises to build upon their already well-established sound and give fans exactly what they’ve long awaited: controlled chaos.
An amalgamation of hardcore, mathcore, and grindcore, Abrupt Decay quickly carved out a niche for themselves and honed their craft, and The Illusion Of Our Choices In A World Of No Options shows no signs of them stopping. Easing things in with some slow, guitar-led atmospherics akin to your favourite shoegaze acts, things quickly take a turn into full-throttle noise, with immediate, erratic vocals and pummelling drumwork which don’t let up. “Black Rock” flows seamlessly into “Silver”, continuing the carnage started by the intro track, with guitars stepping back into the foreground and taking a much more prominent role here, transforming the band’s sound into an entirely different beast. Interspersed with glitchy, high-pitched, almost cybernetic notes, the chugging begins, and Abrupt Decay comes into full form.
There’s much to be said for the sheer range and variety of styles implemented across the album by vocalist Grant Matthews. Transitioning in and out of an utterly unhinged scream akin to the likes of Rich Lombardi, into much more ferocious lows, and some more restrained deathcore style vocals, there’s a lot to unpack. “Pressure Sores” gives us a glimpse of this, but it’s on “Whelm” where this concept is best showcased, with the vocal delivery evolving throughout the entirety of the track’s duration, never letting the listener get too comfortable. This contrast is further enforced by the fantastic selection of vocal features across the release, with the likes of Danny Matthews of Cel Damage, and Colter Cuthbertson of Killing Of A Sacred Deer/Psycho-Frame joining the fray, amongst a handful of other, smaller names in Jay Breen of Trench, and Reece Prain of Diploid. The inclusion of each act in stark contrast to Matthews’ erratic style only goes to emphasise the emotion-laden force in each delivery. Closing track “The Illusion of Our Choices…” may be my personal favourite in this regard, with Enter Shikari-esque sung vocals sneaking into the background, and Matthews’ screams gradually progressing alongside the instrumental, becoming more and more erratic as the track progresses.
Instrumentally, there’s a lot to be said for the release as well, with the genre fusion constantly changing track to track, but with a blend and pacing that makes it feel like a completely natural progression. Perhaps Wax Vessel stated it best, saying that “There are 0 singles on this album – it’s a complete work. A true ‘album’ album”, and whilst at face value this may sound a bit silly, Nik is absolutely correct. The Illusion Of Our Choices In A World Of No Options is something which is at its best when experienced end-to-end, not piecemeal. Whilst there are certainly standout moments, it’s the contrast and flow throughout which truly sets Abrupt Decay apart from their peers. There are elements of mathcore, hardcore, deathcore, and much, much more littered across the album, but there’s a consistent thread throughout which is distinctly Abrupt Decay, and it’s that which makes for a truly special listening experience. Of course, none of this should come as any surprise, with the band having already released plenty of incredible material, but also more recently stepping up and becoming the touring band behind Killing Of A Sacred Deer. A group of seasoned veterans, at this point, every sound and every moment has been crafted to fit seamlessly into the album’s soundscape.
Something which may slip under the radar of many is the lyrical content and the themes being discussed here. Utterly nihilistic and full of rage for the majority, there’s a clear level of disdain being put out into the world through every lyric, whether that be internalised hatred or targeted, it’s consistently strewn throughout every track. Callbacks between tracks, there’s a story being told for those vigilant enough to piece the plot together. “I will trace your name with my fingers over your skin” is one of many repeated motifs, but each application with a distinctly different intention, with “Pressure Sores” and “Serruptitions” both taking similar lyrical content and themes, but imposing an entirely different meaning upon them. Without giving too much away, as it is truly a special listen, the lyric “We can live without the blood on our hands” is perhaps the best summation of the themes being discussed here; we all know that we can do better, and we should, so why aren’t we?
Where does this leave Abrupt Decay in today’s landscape, then? Well, it’s hard to say. In a genre which rarely sees much praise nowadays outside of the occasional boutique label pressing or the odd viral Bandcamp release, Abrupt Decay have shown that they’re truly a cut above the rest. For many listeners, it’s safe to assume that the band’s stylings are something which isn’t immediately familiar, and that’s okay, it’s good to explore new genres and find new music, but for those who already enjoy this niche, and those who’re already fans of the band, The Illusion Of Our Choices In A World Of No Options feels like more than a natural progression from their prior work, but more so a giant leap forward. That’s not to say that the band’s previous material is weak by any means, but with this release, it feels as if Abrupt Decay have truly found their calling and are confident in their abilities through and through, almost reviving a dying sound in the process.
9/10
The Illusion Of Our Choices In A World Of No Options releases this Friday, August 1st, and is available to pre-order in limited supply via Wax Vessel.