ABDUCTION – Existentialismus

Emerging from Derby, England, Abduction releases one of the year’s most intriguing black metal albums.

 

The project is entirely led by Phil Illsley (aka A|V), with additional musicians joining for live shows. Now at its fifth full-length in nine years, this work feels more inspired than ever. With a title like Existentialismus, you expect nothing less than a deeply crafted album—both stylistically and conceptually.

 

In six tracks spanning 45 minutes, Illsley mixes aggression and philosophical depth, drawing on Mgła and early Gaerea, especially in the furious guitars and raw screams. The album kicks off with A Legacy Of Sores, combining razor-sharp riffs and relentless blast beats with ferocious, yet precise, vocals that remain impactful even during more melodic passages. Pyramidia Liberi balances high-speed assaults with introspective moments, a formula continued in Truth Is As Sharp A Sword As Vengeance, distinguished by both its length and intensity. The epic scope rises with Blau Ist Die Farbe Der Ewigkeit, slightly more reflective, and peaks on Razors of Occam, arguably the album’s standout. Here, the vocals shift seamlessly between furious screams and evocative tones reminiscent of Borknagar or Enslaved, while the guitars deliver melodic tremolo passages that never sacrifice inspiration for speed. The closing track, Vomiting At Baalbek, spans over 11 minutes and summarizes the album’s intricate compositional approach from start to finish.

 

The UK underground, especially in black metal, hides gems worth discovering. Existentialismus is undeniably one of them. With this release, Abduction cements itself as a top recent project in the genre. It is a band to watch closely, able to craft music that’s ferocious, introspective, and uniquely their own. The band blends modern influences with a personal signature.