I’m rooting for Abbath in every way. It is all tied up in the mystery of the man: hard living, black metal cornerstone with a talent rarely paralleled in his chosen space, coupled with a sense of showmanship and fuck-it-all-ness that only adds to his legacy rather than detract. 

The quality of any Abbath release is always anticipated in the metal world, and that makes Dread Reaver a cause for celebration. Album opener Acid Haze smashes this beast conscious, a sense of urgency in the air, complete with outro scream. I had that uneasy feeling that this one of those front-loaded long players, showing their hand right off. This insane notion was smashed to dust with the scalding Scarred Core. The sense of completeness, the feeling that these compositions were chiseled out of hard worn emotion and passion would be evident to a casual listener. It is overwhelming to those of the cloth, an overflowing current of black metal goodness in a time when it is most sorely needed.

Dream Cull slithers along at that perfect evil Abbath pace. Myrmidon makes you wonder just how far this fantastic lineup can go. By the time the epic Dread Reaver closes the album, you realize you’re digesting a new heavy metal classic. 

Thanks Abbath for delivering the goods once again. Long may this slab reign.

Dread Reaver is out today on Season of the Mist Records.