Abducted

If it worked out once, why not go any further. These are the conclusions apparently reached by the Swedes from Hypocrisy who set about recording the successor to "The Fourth Dimension". "Abducted" is a classic development of the previous formula, ie. a continuation of the melo-death style and an even bolder step to gain more listeners. And here is the first plus...because this approach for Hypocrisy is surprisingly nothing embarrassing - for this time. Well, the three Swedes, by "Abducted", managed to maintain the previous very high level and keep the appropriate proportions - despite the fact that in stronger regions (at least for me) their music made an even greater impression.

First of all, on "Abducted", there is a great, Scandinavian climate (similarly "cold" as on "The Spectral Sorrows" Edge Of Sanity) and that the band did not give up faster or even more brutal playing in favor of this light one. Okay, at the end of the album, there are many more friendly moments (which is average for the rather sleepy "Slippin 'Away" and the exhausted choruses of "When The Candle Fades" - although "Drained" is already doing well in this respect), nevertheless the general scheme of breaking a melodic song with a faster/more brutal one works perfectly here. On one side, "Paradox", "Roswell 47", "Buried", "The Arrival Of The Demons (Part 2)" - incredibly catchy, but not redrawn, on the opposite - "Killing Art", "Point Of No Return", the title track - stronger and referring to the older style.

Unfortunately, not everything makes a good impression on "Abducted". Moderately convincing sound (especially plastic drums), the aforementioned sleepy atmosphere at the end, but most importantly!, reducing growls in favor of high-pitched screeching (with occasional, but fairly good, clean singing). And while the production and ballad songs can still be overcome, the last of the mentioned ones does take away the power of the whole. Because of the very good growlings from "The Fourth..." in the case of "Abducted" there is no comparison...Which does not change the fact that this is still a very successful cd and generally one of the most interesting albums in the discography of Tägtren's band! Despite its defects, "Abducted" is not so much inferior to its predecessors.

Originally on: https://subiektywnymetal.blogspot.com/2020/07/hypocrisy-abducted-1996.html