Relics of Great Ash

Abyssal Rift arrives with debut full-length Extirpation Dirge, a 36-minute blast of dark, anti-human death-doom. The project comes from Columbus, Ohio multi-instrumentalist Matt Auxier, known from industrial acts 6th Circle and Ash Prison, who wrote, recorded and played everything apart from drums.

Drums were performed and recorded remotely by David Mahony of Irish black/grind band Unyielding Love. The record draws on Auxier's love of death metal and industrial, pulling influence from Incantation, Disembowelment, Immolation, Goblin, King Crimson, Eloy and Amon Duul II.

The result is dense, disorienting and atmospheric: machine-like destruction collides with misery-soaked doom, cinematic experimental passages, heavy synth work, clean guitars and spectral dark ambience. Extirpation Dirge feels vast, murky and constantly descending.