Name: Abyss
Brand: Blacklab

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

NHSCD030

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Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Digipack.

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Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2020-05-29

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Cargo

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

5055869546959

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Total Cap

1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

Blacklab

Genre GB

Metal

Label GB

New Heavy Sounds

Blacklab is a dark witch doom duo hailing from Osaka, Japan. The band consists of Yuko Morino on guitars and vocals, and Chia Shiraishi on drums. With their unique blend of haunting melodies and heavy riffs, Blacklab has carved out a niche for themselves in the music industry.
Inspired by artists such as Styke, Henry, Cnof, Mystific, Alpha Rhythm, In:Most, Askel & Elere, Motiv, Leniz, Tatora, Minos,Dan Guidance,Critical Event,Duoscience ,Artsea ,Walk:r ,CRSV,Ben Rolo,Air.K & Cephei,Hocseat
Whether you're a fan of doom metal or simply appreciate powerful and atmospheric music,<en>Blacklab's</en> captivating sound will leave you spellbound. Don't miss the opportunity to experience the mesmerizing world of <en>Blacklab</en>.

New Heavy Sounds is a music label specializing in stoner rock, doom metal, and sludge metal genres. With a passion for heavy and powerful sounds, we strive to bring the best of these genres to music lovers around the world.

Our label represents a diverse roster of talented artists who push the boundaries of *stoner rock*, *doom metal*, and *sludge metal*. From bone-crushing riffs to hypnotic grooves, our artists create music that resonates with fans seeking an intense sonic experience.

At New Heavy Sounds, we are committed to supporting emerging talent as well as established acts within these genres. We work closely with our artists to ensure their creative vision is fully realized and their music reaches its intended audience. Whether you're a die-hard fan or new to this style of music, our label offers an array of releases that will satisfy your cravings for heavy, raw energy.

The first album was a remixed collection of the band’s early tracks, a melting pot of influences as they set out to inhabit their own space. Now with Abyss the band are very much defining what that space is. Once again, the album was produced by Jun Morino in Osaka, and mixed in London by Wayne Adams (Pet Brick, Green Lung, Cold In Berlin) and is an uncompromising beast of a record. Recorded under a full moon over 3 intense days, the album has the ‘off the leash’ abandon of Fun House era Stooges and is marked by a fat dose of doom meets slowed down hardcore punk; filled with loud, ultra distorted guitar, and yet, a surprising amount of melody as well. In fact, Yuko has said that the band’s name is a combination of Black Sabbath and Stereolab, well here on Abyss is where that strange mix begins to make musical sense.

The band haven’t lost their love of lo-fi or ‘Riot Grrrl’ attitude. The guitars are loud and heavily gnarled to the point of chaos. Vocals go from shoegaze melodic to hardcore screams (in fact rarely has a vocalist in this genre screamed so musically as Yuko does) and underneath all this, Chia batters the skins, all rolling and tumbling thunder amidst the riffs. Yes there is a smattering of ‘Sabbathy Wizarding’ of course, but submerged within dark, deep fuzz and punk rock crank and grind. In truth the vibe is closer to both the arty heaviness of early Boris, and the sweet savagery of My Bloody Valentine, than any kind of ‘doom’ tropes. It’s a sound that is undoubtedly BlackLab’s own. So over 8 tracks, clocking in at around 42 mins, you get the current Blacklab world view. 

Insanity creeps in with a sound familiar to doom lovers. Then over the course of eight minutes manages to motor into its own riff time continuum, fuelled by heavy fuzz, pounding drums, and vocals that run the gamut from surly, to sweet, to full on throat- shred. Fade and Melt is quirky, odd even, but heavy too, marrying a sweet Japanese melody to a dense, rolling barrage of distortion. Weed Dream is driven by chugging, barely under control guitar and grunge punk swagger, and it’s here that Yuko most obviously channels her inner Stereolab. Amusement Park Of Terror. The title sounds like some cheapo 60’s bug movie, or a grade B slasher flick from the 80’s. Well to be honest this short instrumental interlude would be the perfect soundtrack to either. Both Forked Road and Chained are cut from the same cloth, a mash up of Stooges meets Comets On Fire mayhem and loping Sleep - esque riffs. Sleepless Night is all throbbing distortion and understated threat, albeit with a curiously catchy chorus and coda. Then you have Sun an underscore to any number of nihilistic apocalypses. It crashes in with a guitar tone so huge it’ll threaten to demolish your speakers. Abyss is an album that is as raw and alive as it gets. It’s refreshingly free of artifice, and it doesn’t arse around.Say hello to the Osaka underground.

Abyss

Music GB