Article By: Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker ‡ Edited By: Leanne Ridgeway

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Rising from the underbelly of Finnish extreme metal in the late nineteen-eighties, ABHORRENCE was formed in 1989 by guitarists Tomi Koivusaari (Violent Solution) and Kalle Mattsson, vocalist Jukka Kolehmainen, bassist Jussi Ahlroth, and drummer Kimmo Heikkinen.

For a time, the quintet played under a variety of changing names before settling under the ABHORRENCE moniker and unleashing their extreme death metal brutality. The band quickly gained recognition for their very groove-oriented style of technical savagery, becoming a favorite live band for many fans within Finland’s underground show circuit.

After recording and releasing one demo tape titled ‘Vulgar Necrolatry’, they released a 7″ S/T EP on Seraphic Decay Records in 1990. Unfortunately, without the benefit of a written contract of any kind, the band lost all of the master tapes and possible future revenues to the release afterward.

ABHORRENCE continued to smash faces with their pulverizing live shows in their home country, even venturing into Norway where they’d share the stage with Mayhem. By this time, a second drummer, Mika Arnkil (Antidote) was maintaining the kit for the band, but soon things would come to an abrupt ending.

Without any clear reasoning, ABHORRENCE came to dissolution in 1990. Tomi Koivusaari went on to play in Amorphis. In the three decades since, others have contributed to music in Ajattara, Rytmihäiriö, and Paradise Lost. Though inactive as a band, ABHORRENCE‘s material would be included on Splits and Compilation releases arriving between 1991 and 2012.

Perhaps it was that 2012 offering, Svart Records‘ ‘Completely Vulgar‘ comp, that rekindled large-scale interest in the band, it is unclear but 2013 brought an ABHORRENCE reformation gig at the Tuska Festival. That show was recorded and later released as the ‘Totally Vulgar – Live At Tuska 2013′ live CD/LP from Svart Records in 2017.

Guitarist Tomi Koivusaari recently told Decibel Magazine: “Ever since we played those first reunion shows for the compilation album in 2013, it felt great to play together and we never really quit after that. When the live album finally came out and we decided to play few gigs to support its release, it was kind of weird to play the same old tracks all over again. We had some song ideas waiting to be worked on, so it was basically just getting into gear and doing it. And if you are making new material, why not record it.”

Tomi Koivusaari – guitar
Kalle Mattsson – guitar
Jukka Kolehmainen – vocals 
Jussi Ahlroth – bass
Waltteri Väyrynen – drums

Here we are in 2018, and ABHORRENCE is back in every sense of the word, set to release a new MCD/EP ‘Megahyrdothalassophobic‘ via Svart Records on September 14th.

The band has also just issued a new song, their first new track since 1990, “Anthem For The Anthropocene” from the upcoming release. The song is a monstrous assault of malevolently proficient death metal, the type that anyone familiar with the sonic legacy of ABHORRENCE would instantly expect upon hearing the band’s return. Check it out below.

Pre-order for ‘Megahyrdothalassophobic‘, the triumphant return of the mighty ABHORRENCE, is active now at THIS LOCATION.

 

2018, Death Metal, Old-School Sunday, Svart Records