Review of Shipwreck AD - Abyss

Celebrity record labels have the tendency to make me smile. Especially when high profile ‘rock,’ personas have set up these little profit centres to peddle soulless tripe far more banal then their own recorded output (I won’t point any direct fingers at anyone) and then see these ventures and their rosters dissipate into the long lost sea of forgotten artists. Thus, it’s refreshing as well as inspiring to see someone like Jake Bannon create a label that not only has genuinely good bands but manages to sustain longevity and remain through the torrent of forever changing musical climates.

Shipwreck AD are pretty much perfect fit for the Deathwish roster. Their dirty, pounding hardcore is soaked in a plethora of influences (much like label mates Pulling teeth) but they manage to deftly organize these into a seamless wall of sound that is as emotional as it is visceral. ‘Lotus,’ duly demonstrates this unison of contrasting elements, weaving slithery riffs that twist and turn into seismic chugs and then back again.

‘Thaw,’ is another example of this, as the withered ghost of the Holy Terror hardcore sound (Integrity, Ringworm) is duly reinvigorated with crusty, driving riffs but is then rounded out with a slim melodic pulse. ‘Ascent’ is pulled in by a Neurosian intro before giving way to more howling vocals and apocalyptic chugs. Closer ‘Zenith,’ is as creepy as it is crushing with yet more Neurosis style atmospheric riffing brushing comfortably with those Holy Terror tendencies. It’s a fine ender to a gratifying record, and whilst it’s not the album’s highpoint it shows that there are plenty of unexplored waters for the band to charter.