Abstracted - Hiraeth (2026)

Hailing from Brazil, today we have Progressive Death Metal outfit Abstracted and their captivating sophomore release “Hiraeth”. Featuring a very well crafted and intricate sound that reminds us of bands like Obscura, Persefone, and similar outfits, the band unleashes seven tracks and over 50 minutes of high-octane music. Highly recommended for fans of crafty and well executed music, this release is full of surprises.

Opening with the expansive “Axis”, the band sets a very lively vibe with soaring vocal arrangements, intricate bass guitar lines, and very engaging tempo changes. Things get heavier with the powerful “Languish”, a song that features Chaney Crabb of Entheos on guest vocals. The band’s ability to switch from full on Prog mode into heavier territories is perfectly showcased in the magical “Sirens”, a very engaging song full of technical wizardry and engaging melodies.

Ravaging through pieces like “To Quench This Insatiable Thirst”, “Requiem”, and “The Barren Grave of God”, the band pummels the listener with blistering guitar work and a mixture of growls and soaring clean vocals, keeping things always fresh and always intense. We particularly like the longer tracks in this release like “Requiem”, “Sirens”, and the closer “The Utter End” as it allows the band to fully develop their songs and expand their range of influences more clearly.

As a whole, “Hiraeth” is a very exciting and intense release full of great ideas and masterful execution. The band has no weaknesses as they unleash banger after banger in this release. While Abstracted’s influences are clear, they allow them to develop their own unique sound with an amalgamation of styles and genres in a very cohesive manner. Looking for something to headbang while being impressed at the execution? Look no further and get a copy of this release.

Rating: 94/100