‘Es la hor de las bestias, Quién se conoce aqui? En la ciudad de la furia, Te tocas pelear o morir’ (Inténtalo o Muere ) / ‘It’s the hour of the beasts, Who knows anyone here? In the city of fury, it’s fight or die’ (Try It Or Die)

Abyecta return with their third 7-inch, following on from 2022’s Enemigos De La Razon (Enemies Of Reason).  Comprising two tracks – Inténtalo O Muere and Amo Y Esclavo (Master and Slave) – that both come in at around the five-minute mark, it is undoubtedly the duo’s most ambitious release to date.

Originally hailing from Chile and now based largely in the US, the fundamentals of their sound remains a fierce blend of Japanese Burning Spirits hardcore and mid-to-late 1980s’ thrash metal (think more Mustaine than Hanneman).  Which, when you think of the classic heavy metal influences that shaped both, makes for a powerfully organic partnership.

The departure comes in the song writing itself, which sets aside short, sharp hardcore blasts in favour of more expansive structures that evolve through distinct, yet closely interlinked, movements.  The key is that none of this feels self-consciously progressive, or in any way self-indulgent.  Rather, it is playing to the very strengths of the inspirations that Abyecta are so vibrantly reanimating.

Dense yet catchy metallic riffage is underpinned by a rolling, surging rhythm section. The riffs themselves continually morph and reform, evolving without ever losing sight of the original starting point.  I particularly love the melodic bridge that binds together Inténtalo O Muere and the killer melody that forms the cornerstone of Amo Y Esclavo.  Now, I know for many, the riffs will be the main attraction here, but it has to be said that the infectiously rasping, utterly rampant vocals are more than a match as they contemplate the harsh realities of life in Santiago.  It’s an exhilarating ride.