Abrams: In The Dark

From Denver, Colorado, Abrams have been scorching the earth since 2013. Psychedelic, grunge, sludge, doom, and heavy rock can be heard in the band’s heavy, pulsating sound. They have five full length albums to their credit and my first exposure to the band is their 2022 effort titled In The Dark.

All four band members are integral to the band’s sound, the guitar riffs are superb throughout, the drums and bass solidifying the heavy riffing, and the vocals just might be the band’s biggest attraction. All too often the vocals, across genres, are an ‘acquired taste’ and take ‘time to digest’. Not so here. Both vocalists are excellent; emotional, melodic, and harmonious, really bringing some great melodies into these ten tracks.

The thunderously heavy riff rock burner “Like Hell� is a fantastic start to the album with its soaring vocals and tricky guitar riff progressions. The riffs have so much depth, a great tone, and an addictive quality, much like the vocals. Concise stop-starts, spacey guitar work, and a hypnotic psychedelic feel gives “Death Tripper� a progressive flair. The complex drumming and psychedelic guitar in the instrumental break are ultra cool. Infectious guitar, tasty vocals, and just the right amount of distortion make the slightly mellower “Better Living� another winner and with “In the Clouds� the groove is deep and heavy and the vocals super catchy. More awesome guitar tones can be heard in the fiery “Fever Dreams� and on “Body Pillow� the band slows down the fuzz drenched riffs creating plenty of atmosphere in the process.

The album ends with the blistering “Black Tar Mountain� where a tight rhythmic attack is paired with near dreamy vocals, incorporating softer, atmospheric sections that reinforce just how dynamic this band can be.

It is albums like In The Dark that bring the swagger back into rock n’ roll and they do it with energy, creativity, and just a great bunch of tunes. Highly recommended.

The band:
Zachary Amster (guitar and vocals)
Taylor Iversen (bass and vocals)
Ryan DeWitt (drums)
Patrick Alberts (guitar)

Track Listing:
1. Like Hell (3:59)
2. Death Tripper (3:25)
3. Better Living (4:16)
4. In The Clouds (2:59)
5. Fever Dreams (3:20)
6. Body Pillow (5:04)
7. Leather Jacket (4:18)
8. White Sand (3:44)
9. In The Dark (5:09)
10. Black Tar Mountain (6:28)

Added: July 27th 2024
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 311
Language: english

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