Summary:The fifth full-length release for the singer-songwriter features contributions from Russian Circles guitarist Mike Sullivan and was produced by John Congleton.
Abyss neatly encompasses the totality of her career, synthesizing the artist’s prolific catalog into her strongest and most ambitious album yet, a cavernous chasm filled with beauty, brutality, and endless possibility.
No matter how aggressive the instrumentation, the music always manages to push things forward, as showcased by the avant-orchestral finale, "The Abyss."
Metal is a cradle-to-grave church of the outsider; birth occurring when you first heard Black Sabbath, Slayer or Metallica. On Abyss, however, Los Angeles' Chelsea Wolfe dabbles in it, owns it, then walks away.
Abyss may not be a go-to for either late-night or summer listening, but it ably solidifies Wolfe’s presence as a devastatingly unique voice in our current musical climate.
I discovered Chelsea Wolfe recently and it has become one of my favourite artists, her music is fantastic and engaging. Her previous album wasI discovered Chelsea Wolfe recently and it has become one of my favourite artists, her music is fantastic and engaging. Her previous album was marvellous, but this one is even better.…Expand
Abyss is that metaphorical black dog of depression painted as a wolf; not a quiet melancholy tugging at your leg every morning, but a fierce,Abyss is that metaphorical black dog of depression painted as a wolf; not a quiet melancholy tugging at your leg every morning, but a fierce, hungry, soul-sapping monster biting at your neck.
Chelsea Wolfe's album is a menacing, beautiful and crushing masterpiece. Its sound palette is grungey and industrial, and Wolfe's ethereal vocals float on top of the walls of distortion like a spectral haunting. It's consistently gloomy, but delivers enough light and dark to avoid becoming monotonous. There are fantastic choruses and crescendos throughout - Iron Moon and Dragged Out being particular highlights. Wolfe should be proud.
Score: 9/10 [Excellent]…Expand
What an amazing album, to date this is one of my favorite in my collection of mixed genres from rap to country. Iron Moon is a powerful,What an amazing album, to date this is one of my favorite in my collection of mixed genres from rap to country. Iron Moon is a powerful, powerful song. Her collaborations seem to be work really well. I love the boys from Russian Circles and to see her carry on a working relationship after Memorial is a delight to hear.
Unfortunately I am late to her bandwagon party, only hearing her music by chance from listening to the new music featured on Itunes. But in the end, now that I've purchased two of her albums and will complete the collection soon enough it's nice to have a new artist to listen to regardless when I discovered her. .…Expand
I was really interested to see where Chelsea Wolfe would be heading with her music after the change in artistry she displayed with her lastI was really interested to see where Chelsea Wolfe would be heading with her music after the change in artistry she displayed with her last release 'Pain is Beauty'; another very fine album. Her latest release of 'Abyss' has yet another shift into a much darker and vulnerable place, and it's absolutely fantastic to be there.
Throughout 'Abyss', Chelsea shows a lot of influence from metal, but does so in a way that doesn't detract from her trademark sounds and melodies. The result is both brutal and heartbreaking. It's a little reminiscent of her 'Apokalypsis' album, but with a more refined pallet. The production on 'Abyss' might be where this album shines the most. It envelops the listener into the world Chelsea is painting with her music in such a way that captures everything this album wants to be.
My only criticism of 'Abyss' is that it does drag out a tad with the last few songs, but these are still wonderful tracks. There isn't one bad moment to be had and Chelsea has come through yet again with a solid, timeless album.
Favourite tracks: Carrion Flowers, Maw, After the Fall, Crazy Love…Expand
My opinion might change later but at the moment I'm kind of neutral about this. I do think it's good, I really like the dark atmosphere thatMy opinion might change later but at the moment I'm kind of neutral about this. I do think it's good, I really like the dark atmosphere that she created on it but it's a bit of a drag there's good songs but because of the length of each song the songs I'm just like eh on seem to go on for an age.…Expand
Carrion Flowers is amazing but all the other songs are awful. I was expecting an amazing album but I was truly disappointed. This album isCarrion Flowers is amazing but all the other songs are awful. I was expecting an amazing album but I was truly disappointed. This album is awful. Just awful.…Expand