In Abhorrence Dementia

In Abhorrence Dementia is an album I've listened to for many years and I can definitely say it's one of the more unique metal albums I've ever listened to. Limbonic Art deserves much praise for putting in so much effort into a seventy minute album. That said, there's a lot in In Abhorrence Dementia (IAD) that will turn off a lot of metal listeners, but on the other hand, there's so much here that if you enjoy only a little bit at first, the rest of the album will really grow on you and stay in your playlist for years. It certainly has for me, at least.

You may recall Limbonic Art's debut, Moon in the Scorpio, which featured unusually longer tracks with not too much variation, but an engrossing atmosphere with a smooth transitions between tracks. It was quite an artistic release, but their second album, IAD, expands on what made Moon in the Scorpio so great and goes into many different directions.

In Abhorrence Dementia is commonly referred to as a symphonic black metal album, but compared to albums of other bands, I don't really know how true that is and thus shouldn't be considered an example of that genre. Well, for one thing, it's hardly black metal. The production is very clear and the music is very light on the ears. There aren't any hateful vibes being produced in the music. The vocals are shrieky - that's it. In fact, it's hardly an example of what most people refer to as symphonic black metal. IAD has very little in common with works from bands like Nokturnal Mortum, Dimmu Borgir, Emperor, Anorexia Nervosa, Finnugor - these bands all vary but this Limbonic Art album is very different from all of them. I would say IAD sounds like something from Sirius or Obsidian Gate or Apotheosis, but it's more likely Limbonic Art influenced those projects anyway.

Ultimately there's a lot on IAD. Including bonus tracks, the total run time is well over seventy minutes. Most tracks are around the 7 minute mark with only a few exceptions. This begs a few questions - how badly does the album lag and/or how fresh can these songs be if there's so much on the album? It turns out these songs don't lag and they still remain fresh after years because Limbonic Art has created a certain atmosphere that is distinctly different from many other bands and it's all executed by competent songwriting involving a decent amount of spontaneity. The production makes the music sound very loose and light so it's never in your face all the time. It's all still heavy, but it all feels controlled at the same time.

The main reason I continue to flock to IAD is because of its diversity in atmospheres. The first two tracks, the title track and A Demonoid Virtue, have a space-like, nocturnal atmosphere but they sound more influenced by the sci-fi stereotypes as space as opposed to the cold, minimalist nature of the universe. Then there are songs like Deathtrip to a Mirage Asylum and Abyssmal Necromacy that remind me a hot summer day. The former is an absolute masterpiece that utilizes a solemn and dense synth introduction, but when the main song starts, it's quite an adventerous ride that takes you in places you don't expect, including an awesome clean vocal chorus in the beginning. This is pretty epic stuff as its a nice surprise, but very fitting and makes that song that much more memorable. Abyssmal Necromacy sounds like some sea-faring anthem, using very catchy ideas with a great chorus backed up by fantastic female vocals. Then there are tracks like Behind the Mask Obscure - this song has a very unforgettable introduction that shows how regal Limbonic Art can be in their ideas. Those two minutes sound like a symphony old-fashioned people would pay a killing to go see. That's really just the tip of the iceberg. Since there are so many great songs on this album, I'm constantly forgetting about a few of them only to rediscover them again and be entertained. If I could describe the general feel of this album, it's extremely animated. The music has a lot of 'character' without being too quirky or being a novelty act. It's theatrical, adventerous, fresh, and majestic. Limbonic Art have created a fantasy world, and In Abhorrence Dementia is that journey through all the areas of that world.

As far as flaws go, I can't really think of any that hurt the music. Any potential improvements would probably compromise the soul of this music. Sometimes the vocals sound funny, but ultimately it's not a big deal as I think they fit the mood most of the time. The riffs, bass, and drum (machine) never really stand out for any particular areas, but that's not really the point. At worst, the album does sound cheaply produced, but without that, IAD would lose its animated and lively feel.

There won't be another album similar to In Abhorrence Dementia, either from Limbonic Art or some other band. It's really unique and offers a lot of surprises. It's a big album, but you don't have to listen to it all at once. There will be many people who hate this album for the same reasons of why I think it's great. But it's a one of a kind experience and the right audience will eat this up from the start. It's been one of my favorite albums for years, but not without good reasons. Check this out now!

Highlights: Deathtrip to a Mirage Asylum, When Mind and Flesh Depart, In Abhorrence Dementia.