THE ABBEY – Word of Sin

2023 is just beginning, but it’s already promising exciting debuts. The projects emerging from the underground music scene have impressed so far, and the Finnish act The Abbey stands out.

 

The ensemble’s name is inspired by the Abbey of Thelema, a villa in Cefalù where the infamous English occultist Aleister Crowley practiced the religion he founded—Thelema—until his expulsion from Italy by Benito Mussolini in 1923. The concept behind the band is therefore crystal clear, and it didn’t take long for Season of Mist, a label known for recruiting talented monikers, to take notice and back their debut. Although the band has only been active for a few months, its members are far from newcomers to the metal scene. At the core of the project is mastermind Jesse Heikkinen, a guitarist highly active in Finland, joined by former Sentenced drummer Vesa Ranta, vocalist Natalie Koskinen of Shape Of Despair, veteran guitarist Janne Markus, and bassist Henri Arvola. With such credentials, the foundation for a strong debut was already set—and it shows in Word of Sin.

 

Stylistically, the band’s sound draws on doom, melodic rock, and progressive elements tinged with darkness, enriched by diverse influences throughout the album’s 53-minute runtime.

Rat King opens the album, showcasing The Abbey’s style: intertwining male and female vocals over Opeth-inspired melodies and syncopated rhythms. The result is a twisting prog journey with doom nuances leading to a dramatic finale. A Thousand Dead Witches maintains the energy with sharper guitars and punchier rhythms, while Starless drifts into ethereal melancholy, highlighting Koskinen’s expressive vocals.

Tracks like Desert Temple and Widow’s Will demonstrate the album’s variety: no two songs sound alike, yet all feel connected as waypoints on a spiritual journey. The listening experience remains fluid and immersive, peaking with the 13-minute closer Old Ones, a display of liturgical grandeur, complex rhythms, solemn choirs, and sweeping organ.

 

Word of Sin is a flawless blend of ’70s King Crimson-inspired prog rock and Candlemass-style doom metal, with a touch of Opeth influence—but framed in an occult, spiritual context—delivering a mystical experience that goes beyond music itself. The Abbey is still in the early stages of their career, and their identity is still crystallizing, but if this debut is anything to go by, they are a name we will continue to hear in the years to come.