I always smile a bit when I see the name Abnormality, as it takes me back to the time I fired up Rock Band 2 way back in the day, scrolled down to the impossible, you-can-only-play-these-if-you’re-13-years-old-and-can-practice-for-12-hours-a-day-songs, and going “WHAATTTT???!!!  They literally put a BRUTAL DEATH metal song in a Rock Band video game!!!”  That song of course was “Visions”, which was off their 2007 demo album (and a song I did try to play in the game, and failed miserably).

So fast forward to 2019, and they’re back with their 3^rd LP, Sociopathic Constructs, coming off of what was, for me, one of the most disappointing albums of 2016, Mechanisms of Omniscience (whose review you can find on this very site), after 2012’s phenomenal Contaminating the Hive Mind.  I am glad to say that this new one reminds me much more fondly of Mind, and is a nice second album to put out on the mighty Metal Blade records.

There’s no pointless intros to skip, as opener “Monarch Alpha” comes through your speaker like a herd of elephants, with Mallika Sundaramurthy’s phenomenal death growl leading the way.  It’s clear that the band has upped the speed and technicality on this whole album, which helps to make up for the boredom of their last album.  After “Penance”, the third track, “Kakistocracy”, is my favorite of the whole album.  It’s got blast beats galore, and ups the groove knob before finishing out the track with a nice guitar solo backed by more rampaging double-bass work.

The tracks do follow a bit of a similar style, but when they’re played this well and with this much intensity, the only thing left to do is just sit back and enjoy.  Instrumental “Aeturnum” will give you a bit of a breather, followed up by a bit slower track in “Dying Breed”, but ends in a welcoming flourish with the aptly titled closer “Curb Stomp.”

Coming in at just under 33 minutes, this is just all around awesome death metal.  The production is top notch, and there’s a lot to like here (including the sick artwork).  After their last one I was worried, but it’s clear they are back with a vengeance.

[Visit the band's website]

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