Send "Abysmal Dawn " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Metalreview |
 Leveling the Plane of Existence is the third album from Los Angeles’ Abysmal Dawn. Abysmal Dawn’s members can definitely play, and the band deals out some punishing death metal, but they fail to cross the threshold into either the technical or brutal realm. Essentially, Abysmal Dawn is a band that plays competent, relatively bullshit-free American death metal. The band works within the traditional confines of the style, but Abysmal Dawn’s sound has the precision and polish that marks it as a 21st-century band.The first three proper tracks on Leveling the Plane of Existence pass by without making much of an impression. They're all straight forward death metal numbers that are energetic and well performed, but not particularly memorable. Abysmal Dawn branches out on the album’s second half with some slower, heavier material, some more melodic material and some that is a little of both. “Perpetual Dormancy” proceeds at a slow march before taking flight with some lyrical, harmonized melodies, accented with some subtle synth work. “Manufactured Humanity” takes things a little too far in the melodic death direction, but at 2:58 it does not overstay its welcome. The album’s most memorable track is the slow rumbler “My Own Savior” the main riff of which is reminiscent of Gateways to Annihilation-era Morbid Angel. The band takes a bit of a misstep with the closing track, “The Sleeper Awakens.” With “Sleeper” Abysmal Dawn makes an attempt at a moodier, more atmospheric song, but the tracks awkward whispered vocals, lethargic pace and a less-than-compelling set of riffs make what was meant to be grim and menacing in fact long and boring. While Leveling the Plane of Existence has a few catchy riffs here and there and some very tasteful solos, for the most part, its songs just go in one ear and out the other. I hate to be so dismissive of a work that likely took a lot of time, effort and money to create, but in this age of market saturation, there is no shortage good death metal. Good is just not good enough anymore. As hard as Abysmal Dawn may have worked on Leveling the Plane of Existence, they are going to have to work a little harder if they want to make a lasting mark in the annals of death metal....full text |
| Skullsnbones |
| Abysmal Dawn is releasing their third album, "Leveling The Plane Of Existence", in February of this year via Relapse Records. After a few listens to this record, I am reminded of why I love this band so much. When it comes to technical death metal, there are so many bands doing the same repetitive approach, but I believe Abysmal Dawn stands out from the others. These guys obviously have talent and know how to write songs, but the sudden changes and blistering solos are what sets this band apart in my mind. "Leveling The Plane Of Existence" is the perfect example of what death metal should sound like in my opinion. You hear influences from Morbid Angel to Suffocation, but the band adds their own style into each song. That is always impressive, no matter who it is. In this case, it is Abysmal Dawn. They are easily one of the most talented bands out there, and I hope this new record brings them the attention that they deserve. So what is my favorite song on the record? There are great tracks throughout the disc, but “My Own Savior” stands out in my mind. It is very reminiscent of classic Morbid Angel, and you can never go wrong with that. The riff is heavy as hell and the song is written with a precise perfection. "My Own Savior" is such a killer track and may end up being my favorite Abysmal Dawn song of all time. It's that awesome. My conclusion on “Leveling The Plane Of Existence" is that Abysmal Dawn has released their best effort and it's definitely worth checking out. If you love death metal, than this band should be next on your shopping list.This album is full of complex, technical riffs, powerful vocals, intense drumming, and solos that will melt your face. What else do you need from a death metal album? This album slays!...full text |
| Sputnikmusic |
| In describing Abysmal Dawn’s new album, Leveling the Plane of Existence, the band’s Myspace states the following: “A tour-de-force of modern death metal mastery, 'Leveling...' is a crushing, front-to-back display of brutality, speed, and virtuosity. Massive, memorable riffs, impossibly deep vocal bellows, and relentless percussion . . . Abysmal Dawn is one of the best new American metal bands.” Now, you could read that description and cite the general cliché advertisements, which, to be honest, are used to raise hype for well over fifty percent of modern death metal albums these days, if not more. Or, on the other hand, you could see that declaration with a fresh, naive pair of eyes, untested by the foul depths of hell and death, ears being unaccustomed to the death metal genre as a whole, much less its clean, loud-sounding modern take. Genuinely being taken in when subsequently listening to Leveling the Plane of Existence, you’d hear every bit of that Myspace statement to be true. It’s probable that you could be either kind of reader, your enjoyment of Abysmal Dawn’s music depending, almost solely, on whether you’ve heard music like this and/or read the aforementioned tripe somewhere else before, correct? But you’re probably the prior, though, getting down to it. The problem with the latter group is that it represents a miniscule number of listeners, to-be-later metalheads, if all goes according to plan. For the majority of us, a thick, overwhelming majority, Abysmal Dawn's Leveling the Plane of Existence is, very likely, not our very first modern death metal album, and therefore what Abysmal Dawn’s Myspace states is null and void: essentially, it’s bull shit. This is because Leveling the Plane of Existence is neither “crushing”, beyond what is considered average fair, and neither is it a “front-to-back display of brutality, speed, and virtuosity”. Actually, it’s far from that. I repeat: far, far, far away from that....full text |
Abysmal Dawn lyrics
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