EP Review: Mordant Rapture – The Abnegation (The Artisan Era)

Active since 2013, The Abnegation will be the Mordant Rapture’s first release, due in part to them laboring for years writing and re-inventing themselves until satisfied with songs they considered top-notch. Mordant Rapture – The Abnegation will strongly appeal to fans of Irreversible Mechanism, Enfold Darkness, Spawn Of Possession, and Mirrorthrone. The album will be released on July 13th 2018 via The Artisan Era.

Ben Wilkinson, founding guitarist, comments on The Abnegation:

“This EP probably stole years off my life; it’s a culmination of countless gallons of coffee, sleep deprivation, and doubts. But with how it turned out I wouldn’t change a thing. I feel like we have finally found the sound we have been chasing and I can’t wait to continue this journey and expand upon what we have made”

A symphonic opening hardly prepares you for the scale of just what Mordant Rapture are offering on The Abnegation. It reaches a short crescendo before exploding in familiar but welcome, blackened death metal. The kind that leans more towards the technical side of things while remaining crushingly heavy and very fast.

Once the shock and awe tactic of Unsightly Beast ends, Withered goes for a similar approach but this time you’re prepared. It doesn’t quite have the same impact but isn’t lacking in force either thanks to it’s shorter length.

A Plea Above Ashes is a short and sombre symphonic interlude before Quell the Voiceless brings back the intensity of Mordant Rapture’s metal sound. Here, the blast-fire style of the riffs and crashing drums really make their mark.

The longest and most epic sounding (symphonically) rains fiery destruction as it closes things out. A hefty finale to an EP that isn’t afraid to push the boundaries of metal.

Mordant Rapture – The Abnegation Full Track Listing:

1. Unsightly Beast
2. Withered
3. A Plea Above Ashes
4. Quell the Voiceless
5. Natal Trophies

You can order the EP now via Bandcamp and via The Artisan Era here. Find out more/keep up to date with news by liking Mordant Rapture’s Facebook Page, following them on Twitter, Instagram and check out the video for Quell the Voiceless below.