| Demo I (Demo) | 1998 | None |
The music, unlike the later releases, has quite a bit of sludge influences. And that was the part that surprised me so much. The music is darker and more aggressive compared to the laid back stoner vibe that their later works show. The laid back vibe is present even at this point, but it is dominated by the aggression. The stoner influences aren't lost either. They are just soaked with heavy, plodding sludge.
In the other releases there is only one song, ‘Distant Lights’ on the 'Snake Lore' mCD, that has harsh hardcore like vocals. And even then it is only for a minor part of the track. Here every track has them. The clear vocals that so many find to be the best trait of Abdullah are present and quite frankly it is the main thing that connects this Abdullah of the past with the modern one. The clean ones are as epic and relaxed as on any newer release.
Fans of the modern Abdullah should have a listen to this demo as it already has some of those elements that make the band's more recent music so enjoyable. On the other hand, unlike their more recent music, this demo would also be interesting for people who enjoy bands like Cruevo or Eyehategod.
My conclusion of this review is actually curiosity. I'm looking forwards to getting hold of the other demos and seeing how Abdullah transformed from this into the band that they are today.
1. Exsanguinate
2. Dysuria
3. Bucket Shop
4. Seethe
5. Deep River
Approx. 29 minutes
| Demo II (Demo) | 1998 | None |
The sludge in the music has been largely removed except for the vokills, which are about as common here as in the first demo. The laid back vibe of Abdullah now shines through and the stoner riffs trots on in a heavy, yet easy manner. The anger on the tracks now comes solely from the vokills, and with the clear vocals sounding as relaxed as ever, Abdullah has found the direction that they wish to continue in.
'Demo II' is 17 minutes less than the previous demo and 10 minutes less than the next. This truly makes it the shortest of the demos. It also has only three tracks. Although this is a slight letdown, the music and musicianship are still of very high quality.
As the review might already have explained, this demo is more for the stoner fans than the sludge fans. Still it would be possible for fans of Cruevo who also like stoner, to enjoy this demo. But mostly it is recommended to people of the average stoner/doom community.
1. Judas
2. Nosebleed
3. Olde English
Approx. 12 minutes
| Demo III (Demo) | 1999 | None |
The sound on this album is pretty much the same as on the s/t, but with a slightly lower quality on the recording. The tracks are actually a tad doomier as well. All sludge tendencies have been lost. This is pure high quality stoner/doom.
The track 'Deep River' is different from the others though. It should also be mentioned that even though there is a song on 'Demo' I with the same name, it's not the same song. This is a very nice and romantic acoustic ballad. Most people would never be capable of singing this song without making it sound false. Jeff Shirilla, the vocalist, does an excellent job and proves once and for all the value of his voice.
I would consider this the most important collectors item for Abdullah fans. For those who just happen to enjoy slightly epic and laid back stoner/doom and comes across this demo, it's almost surefire that you'll enjoy it. However since a third of the demo is on the s/t record, the cash might bring more musical value from that LP.
This concludes my research in Abdullah's history from their first demo, to the modern sound of the band. What I haven't said is probably best left for the music to tell for itself, for those who wants to repeat my journey that is.
1. Wading In Dark Water
2. Long Gone
3. Now Is The Winter
4. Deep River
5. Conundrum
6. A Tribute To My Apathy
Approx. 23 minutes
| Snake Lore (mCD) | 1999 | Rage Of Achilles |
It should probably be noted that you will find both the first, 'The Path To Enlightenment', and sixth track, 'The Black Ones', on the album that was released right after this mCD. The two releases are actually quite different from each other, but yet it seems that the tracks in question fit just as well in both releases.
Abdullah has been influenced by many bands within both the stoner and the doom side of the genre border, naming Black Sabbath, Trouble and St. Vitus as some of them. Plenty of these examples can be found when the music varies between the bouncier stoner riffs, and over to heavy low riding doom. All of this bathes in an atmosphere that seems to hover in both the old school and the modern. The typical riffs connecting Abdullah to its roots, have sometimes been complemented by industrial sounds like radio voices. The classic Sabbathic vocals that could easily be mistaken for Mr. Osbourne himself are full of reverb. In one place the vocals have even been distorted into a hissing snakelike voice. The music could probably best be described as the great link between old and the new stoner/doom.
A laid back vibe is found throughout the mCD, except on one song, which actually defies most of the music on the album. The fifth track, 'The Sickness Unto Death', reminds me more of Reverend Bizarre than any of the influences mentioned by Abdullah. This track is a depressive and crushingly heavy one with slow riffs. They do not leave their niche as they do have sections of the track that are more typical for the rest of the album, but in general the rule is that this track would be preferred by fans of the really heavy kind of doom. This band also has a rich set of lyrics. Abdullah could at times be seen as Buddhist in their repeating quest for enlightenment and truth. This search involves a whole range of questionings and experimentation on both religion and society. The lyrics may also roam into depression, criticism and other minor topics, but they always hold a grip on their main topic, enlightenment. The effects in the music, like the industrial elements, often play a role in the lyrics. Like the portrait of the devil that the hissed vocals in track two, 'Distant Lights', give. The music is overall very well mixed with the lyrics, creating a sound of unity between the two. Truly this release is skillfully put together with both care and patience.
But the really great thing about this release is that it will appeal to fans of all kinds of stoner and traditional doom fans. Fans of Black Sabbath, St. Vitus, Electric Wizard, Pentagram, Kyuss and Reverend Bizarre, possibly loads more, would find something of their liking here. In many years time when Abdullah and their temporaries will have become old school, this release shall most certainly be one of the classics.
1. The Path To Enlightenment
2. Distant Lights
3. In The Belly Of The Beast
4. Firmament
5. The Sickness Unto Death
6. The Black Ones
Approx. 45 minutes
| Abdullah (CD) | 2000 | MeteorCity |
Abdullah is one of those bands that seems to love to break new musical ground without ever experimenting too wildly, preventing their music from sounding like a loose cannon. As many other bands who do the same, they refuse to let anyone put them in a specific genre. In the end, 'Abdullah' sums them up perfectly anyway.
The music is the same laid back stoner/doom with epic touches as the previous two releases. However there are a few new areas of ground covered. Amongst them is a ballad-like and quieter type of music. It still clearly sounds like Abdullah, but the quietness gives it a slightly different atmosphere.
'Lucifer in Starlight' is one of these tracks. This is a particularly interesting track as it is based on an intriguing theological theory. It’s a mournful song as seen through the eyes of Lucifer himself. He speaks of his loneliness and regrets, but also about his realization that it's too late to turn back. ...Really makes one question the effect of punishment.
This is the debut album of Abdullah. Despite the fact it's slightly different from the Abdullah that’s heard in 'Graveyard Poetry', this mournful debut is just as good
1. The Path to Enlightenment
2. Conundrum
3. Earths Answer
4. Visions of the Daughters Of Time
5. Now is the Winter
6. Lucifer in Starlight
7. The Black Ones
8. Awakening the Colossus
9. Proverbs of Hell
10. Journey to The Orange Island
11. Lotus Eaters
Approx. 68 minutes
| Graveyard Poetry (CD) | 2002 | MeteorCity |
Like some of you, I've had the promo of this for some time. Now that the official release is at hand, I think its time to bump this one up again so it can get the attention it deserves!
Abdullah's label, MeteorCity, has truly widened the definition of stonerrock, or stoner doom, or what have you, this year. Diverse releases ranging from the b-movie psych of the Ribeye Brothers to the stoner-licious sounds of the Mushroom River Band to the melodic doom of Ohio's Abdullah are mainly united by their high quality, as opposed to any allegiance to a specific sound.
One might say the same about Abdullah. I've been an enthusiast since the 'Snake Lore' days, and I've loved their brand of melodic doom from the start. For some reason these guys remind me of New York doomsters Slow Horse far more than they remind me of any easy old school doom examples you might think of. It must be the clean, melodic vocals and literate lyrics. And speaking of literature, vocalist Jeff Shirilla pounds those thoughtful lyrics out like he majored in English, ha ha. That even extends to the song titles, such as 'The Whimper of Whipped Dogs' and 'Behold a Pale Horse.' If you can name the authors of those 2 works for me, I'll buy you a beer next time we meet.
If you've been paying attention to reviews posted around the net, you know that Abdullah is breaking out of the doom ghetto now, at least to an extent. Yeah, the doom is still here, what with instant classics like 'Behold a Pale Horse' and 'Salamander,' with its irresistible descending riff. But Abdullah has injected a big ole' hypo full of classic Maiden and Priest into the mix: check 'Strange Benedictions' and 'Guided by the Spirit.' And dig the death growls in the signoff tune, 'They, the Tyrants.' Who knows where these doomsters are going to end up?
One thing that nobody's talked about is the production. As an old Pere Ubu fan, I'm very familiar with the work of producer Paul Hamann. As far as I'm concerned, his name should be spoken with the same reverence as Billy Anderson's, Scott Reeder's, or even Steve Albini's. Paul's super-experienced at getting a powerful, natural sound. It wouldn't surprise me if he uses tubes in the recording process.
If you like clean, melodic doom with a heavy injection of old-school metal, you'll love Abdullah. Check it out, baby!
Reviewed by Kevin McHugh
I discovered Abdullah through a compilation CD. The first track I heard from them was "The Black Ones". I could hardly believe my ears. Their doom metal was the finest that I had heard since a long time. Their debut came very soon and it was what we all expected it to be. A great masterpiece and one of the most important doom metal albums nowadays. Songs full of haunting dark melodies and a fucking doomy feeling are some of the features that made Abdullah to be one of the most important hopes of the doom metal genre in our days.
Time has passed and the band has returned with its second album called 'Graveyard Poetry'. Although they managed to keep all its doomy musical forms, the new stuff is different than their debut. Do not panic, we are not talking about serious musical changes. The band has simply managed to create a heavier and a little bit groovier, wall of sound. Basically we have some heavier, faster and groovier songs put together with songs in more traditional doom metal forms.
I would use the description "Heavy Rock and Roll" to describe the musical point of view of this album in general, but let's be more specific. We can find songs in faster tempo, electrified with groovy guitar riffs that will remind you of '70s rock 'n roll. The opening track of the album (Black Helicopters) and tracks like "A Dark But Shining Sun", "Deprogrammed" are typical examples. On the other side we have songs in the traditional doom metal forms, heavy, dark and melodic, songs like "Pantheistic" (my favorite track from this album), "Salamander", "Behold A Pale Horse" (with its haunting melody on keyboards) will take you to the mountains of doom once more. From time to time the band tries to show a more aggressive face for example in the track "They, the Tyrants", which is the fastest song of the band. If I heard the song without knowing who has written it, I could not believe that this is song from Abdullah!
Add to all these the very good -heavy but "clean" and ideal for this genre- production by Paul Hamann, the depressive but still so strong and melodic vocals by Jeff Shirilla and you will get an idea of the album. Abdullah have offered us a great album full of heavy dark and emotional music. I am sure that not only the fans of doom metal or "stoner rock" (sic) will enjoy the new album, but also everyone who is searching for something heavy, dark and emotional.
Guest Review by: CountRaven
1. Rune
2. Black Helicopters
3. A Dark But Shining Sun
4. The Whimper Of Whipped Dogs
5. Deprogramed
6. Pantheistic
7. Beyond the Mountain
8. Salamander
9. Strange Benedictions
10. Secret Teachings Of Lost Ages
11. Medicine Man
12. Guided By The Spirit
13. Behold A Pale horse
14. They, Thy Tyrants
Approx. 64 minutes
| Abdullah / Nephusim Split (7") | 2003 | Obscure Sombre |
Despite the changes you can still clearly hear that this is Abdullah. The riffage has undergone some treatment to make it more upbeat, but it's still recognisable. Not to mention the unique vocals of Jeff Shirilla, which still remain much the same.
But... If Abdullah is moving away from the doom scene, who is going to take their place? The band inhabiting the other side of the 7" answers that question. Nephusim is darker and more depressing than Abdullah and contains no sign of being laid back. Still the similarity in melody and the religious philosophy would surely make this interesting for Abdullah fans.
Nephusim is probably a bit too drowsy to fit the stoner/doom label perfectly, but you can clearly hear the bouncing rock influences. On the other hand the genre label is unimportant. The music already fits very well with the sorrowful lyrics. It definitely works, so why change it?
In the end there is only one real disappointment about the split. It only lasts ten minutes. I guess it's not such a bad length considering that it's a 7", but still... I would definitely have cheered for a few more minutes of this.
Abdullah:
1. Glisten
Nephusim:
2. Shattered Soul
Approx. 10 minutes
| Abdullah / Dragonauta (CD) | 2005 | Dias de Garage |
Yep, it's become hard to predict exactly where Abdullah will go next, though they always respect their old school doom roots. Its been three years since their last official release, so those of us who've followed them since 2000's great 'Snake Lore' demo have been gritting our teeth with impatience. No worries, 'cause this split is some of their best work yet, with songs of melody and power that aggressively wed Sabbathian doom with an ever-expanding NWOBHM influence and more than a dash of hardcore. Past demos have prepared listeners for this, but not for the maturity and beauty - yes, I said beauty! - of the execution. This is simply great songwriting and even better ensemble playing, running the gamut of musical influences from Trouble, Maiden, and Witchfinder General to Hidden Hand, Place of Skulls, and Budgie. And call me crazy, but the vocal chorus on 'Brightest Day' reminds me of late Celestial Season, a now-defunct Dutch band of whom Abdullah may well never have heard. The rhythm section is tight and in the pocket, the guitars are keg-smooth with excellent leads interspersed, and the vocals are clean, versatile and emotive. The only bump in the road would be the hardcore-influenced 'Killing for Culture', which is more of a matter of personal preference than anything else. Abdullah exalts the spirit!
Dragonauta, on the other hand, plumb the depths of evil, morphing away from the prog/doom approach of their 'Luciferatu' disc and presenting us with more of a Sabbath-meets-Venom approach this time around. Not that the prog change-ups are gone, oh no. They've simply added more to their meaty stew, more bleeding flesh to tear into. Here's a baker's dozen of influences; no doubt you'll be able to name several dozen of your own: El Reloj, Vox Dei, Celtic Frost, Flied Egg, Hawkwind, Sabbath ('natch), Cosmic Dealer, Thee Frantics, Obsessed, Q65, Count Raven, Motorhead and La Pesada. Eschewing the English lyrics of previous efforts, Federico Wolman's vocals are all in Spanish, gargling blood and razors while exploring hideous occult depths in a virtual black metal style. Bien de machos! Indeed! The playing presents a melodic counterpoint; there really seems to be nothing this band of prodigal sons cannot play! They're that good. Is it doom? I'll say yes, though Sabbath purists will disagree. One thing's for sure; there's no violins and hand wringing. This is doom for carnivores! Don't neglect to listen to the last couple of songs, which are live versions of songs from 'Luciferatu'.
The Dias de Garage label has proven that they've got an eye for quality and plenty of love for the music. Show 'em some love of your own by picking up what will surely be one of the year's best discs.
Abdullah:
1. Seven Doors
2. Grey Sky Faith
3. Blossom
4. Brightest Day
5. Killing for Culture
6. With Guilt
Dragonauta:
7. Ramera del Diablo
8. Revolucion Luciferiana
9. Letargo Espiritual
10. Bruta Vu (Hijo del Diablo) (live Version)
11. Tomegapentagram (live Version)
Approx. 55 minutes