While thematically speaking, Doom, Black, and Death Metal maintain similarities, musically they vastly differ. Doom is typically slower, incredibly heavy and riff based, Black Metal is raw, lo-fi, and sped up picking, and Death Metal is a brutal, violent and gutteral. Superstatic has found a way to blend all three into an all out assault to the senses. Released in May of 2018, “Key to the Abyss” is the debut album from Superstatic, the Irish project band led by Rustam(known here as Alex) of Rakoth(Earache Records) . The album is based on the original mission to space, the works of Russian Horror writer Ilya Masodov, and includes two cover songs.
“Key to the Abyss” opens with “Devils”, and the Doom riffs come in heavy. The vocals are almost unexpected, and throughout the rest of the album are deeply rooted in Black and Death Metal. This blend of Extreme Metal genres is practically seamless and merges incredibly well. “Devils” is a great way to open this album and leaves a taste of what’s to come. “Santa Dolore” is one of two covers on the album. 80’s Darkwave fans will recognize the title as a Die Form song, but might not pick up on the sound after giving this rendition a listen. While still keeping the darker feel of the original, Supertastic has turned it into a heavy Atmospheric Black Metal song. The ambient and choral backing conserves the tone of the Darkwave classic, while giving it a new, much heavier life. The title track, “Key to the Abyss” is all about the first man to travel to outer space, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, and is a tribute of sorts. Heavy, slower paced, and with sweeping lead guitar, the listener is taken on an outer-worldly journey, as if they are making that first trip skywards themselves. “Key to the Abyss” also includes an almost hidden treat in the form of the original soundbite of “Поехали!” (“Poyekhali! /Let’s Go!”) from Yuri himself. “Sweetness of Your Tender Lips” is a heavy, classic Doom Metal song. The deep tone of a ringing bell in the background gives an ominous sense of dread to an already woeful tone. If one has been waiting for serious guitar riffs, the wait is over with “Warmth of Your Hands”. Easily the riffiest song on the album, and the most patterned, flowing from heavy riffs to a slower build with overlaid Death Metal-esque harmonic squeals. “Warmth of Your Hands” is a great outright Doom Metal song. The Death Metal influence is felt, but mostly takes a back seat to the Doom and Black Metal tones through the front and middle of this album. “Darkness of Your Eyes” brings it all forward with its slow-burning brutal onslaught. While not as fast of a tempo, due to heavy Doom influence, of Old School Death Metal “Darkness of Your Eyes”, will still appease those looking for that same brutality. And like the rest of the album, the soloing adds a mesmerizing dynamic. The closer and second cover is “Good Morning, Great Moloch”. Originally a proggy folk tune by British NeoFolk band Current 93, Superstatic has transformed it into a Type-O-Negative style Doom ensemble. “Good Morning, Great Moloch” is sorrowful and quite the opposite of the original sound of the song.
“Key to the Abyss” has found the correct recipe for all three of Superstatic’s primary influences of Doom Metal, Black Metal, and slower paced Death Metal. This album would be great for fans of all three genres, as well those unfamiliar any of them, as it would a good way to be introduced. Overall, this is a solid album. It has great riffs, heavy in the right places, raw and low-fi in others. Thematically it has an interesting concept and is well written. The only negative critique, and it may have been intentional, but there is a noticeable lack of bass. It may have gotten lost in the mix, or was meant to recreate the sound of early Black Metal(which it does a great job doing). “Key to the Abyss” is available now on Bandcamp and Spotify.
