Atonement Is Nigh

An Abstract Illusion is a very unkown band. I found them while wandering aimlessly on youtube and checking out all types of worthless bands hoping to find something good. And I did. I actually clicked on this thing simply because I liked the artwork and I was instantly intrigued.

They play some symphonic ambient black metal or something. I can't even cathegorize it. But one thing I can say is that it's way better than you'd expect. The first song, "The Sun Will Bleach All Bones" is a massive 16 minute long creation. It keeps a steady pace while going through different melodies and riffs and it can totally put you into a trance. I'm not really sure what the concept is about or if there is one at all but I certainly understand the feel that they were looking for. It's quite hard to describe. There's a dark and mystical vibe all through the song and it just slowly creeps inside you. It's very dark but also very melodic and sad. I think it's quite apocalyptic actually.

What I like most about this song is the mystery of it all. Mentally I can't make much sense out of it but somehow I get it. It speaks to me in a very deep and emotional way. I guess the name is very well put because this is as abstract as it can get. It's like a riddle. The lyrics do send you in a certain direction and you get an idea but not a message. It's like they just created this enigmatic feel and dark poetry and left the listener decode what it means. I'm getting ideas like post-apocalypse, dark energies and the inevitability of death when I hear it but it's not that simple because it's not all dark. It somehow sounds peaceful and calm. It feels like letting go. I'm seriously obsessing over this stuff.

And the songwriting is amazing. It's quite heavy but also very ambient. The riffs and growls don't sound aggressive but rather sorrowful. And then there's the keys and clean vocals. There's something of an unknown nature in those things. They sound so hypnotic. They're peaceful, soothing and somehow pure. It's like bliss but it's still sad. You're probably thinking that I'm a bit crazy but if you check it out you'll see what I mean.

The second song, "Rain" isn't so dark but rather melancholic. It's an instrumental track and it really gives the feel of a calm and steady rain. I'm very impressed of how well they put that feeling into the music. Being a bit repetitive, it creates some monotony and it brings the rainy day ambience. It contrasts very well with the first song.

The third and last track, "Chameleon of the Clouds" brings back the vocals and it's probably the most energetic one. The lyrics in are awesome, especially in the last verse where it says "We are An Abstract Illusion". And then there's a really cool piano fade out. I'm not so impressed with this one but it works great after the first two songs.

Atonement is Nigh may be just a three song EP but it goes through a great variety of moods. You get to feel some deep stuff listening to it and at the end of the whole thing I just want to play it again. And then I remember that this was made by some people in Sweden with almost no audience at all, just because they wanted to. An Abstract Illusion is the best example you can get of great music that nobody listens to. So you'd better start listening to them.