Review by Rick Eaglestone for MPM
For those who might be late to the party, Annisokay have spent the better part of their career refusing to be pigeonholed.
They have dabbled with electronicore, flirted with post-hardcore sensibilities, and maintained a foundation of absolutely crushing metalcore throughout. This latest offering represents the culmination of that journey, a confident statement from a band who know exactly who they are and what they want to say.
The album opens with a sense of theatrical grandiosity that immediately sets the tone. There is an atmosphere here that feels cinematic, almost apocalyptic in scope, which makes perfect sense given the title. This isn’t just another metalcore record churned out to satisfy label demands and touring schedules. This is a proper artistic statement; the kind of album that demands your full attention from start to finish.
But let’s talk about the vocals, because this is where Annisokay have always excelled, and Abyss is no exception. The interplay between clean and harsh vocals has been refined to near perfection here. The clean vocals soar with genuine emotion, carrying melodies that embed themselves in your brain after just one listen. Meanwhile, the screams and growls have real venom to them, proper visceral aggression that never feels forced or theatrical for the sake of it. The dynamic between the two styles creates this push-pull tension that keeps you engaged throughout the entire runtime.
Lyrically, this is weighty stuff. The band are not content to stick with generic metalcore themes of personal struggle and overcoming adversity. There is a conceptual depth here that rewards repeated listens. Themes of existential dread, societal collapse, and the search for meaning in an increasingly chaotic world permeate the record. It’s heavy subject matter handled with genuine intelligence and emotional authenticity. You get the sense these lads have something real to say, and they’re not going to waste your time with empty platitudes.
Each track has its own identity while contributing to the overall narrative arc. There are absolute bangers here that will get the circle pits moving at festivals, but there are also moments of genuine beauty and introspection that showcase the band’s range.
The heavier sections are genuinely brutal. When Annisokay decide to bring the riffs, they bring them with serious intent. We are talking breakdowns that could level buildings, blast beats that feel like getting punched in the face by a very talented and rhythmically precise boxer, and guitar work that manages to be technically impressive.
What really elevates this record above much of the modern metalcore pack is the band’s willingness to experiment with atmosphere and dynamics. There are electronic elements woven throughout that add texture and mood without ever feeling tacked on or trendy. Ambient passages build tension before explosive releases. Quiet moments make the heavy sections hit even harder. It is sophisticated stuff, the kind of arranging that shows a band operating at the peak of their creative powers.
One of the most impressive aspects of this record is how it manages to sound fresh and contemporary while clearly drawing influence from metalcore’s rich history. You can hear nods to the genre’s pioneers, the melodic sensibilities of Scandinavian metal, the aggression of American hardcore, and the experimental spirit of the genre’s more adventurous practitioners. But it never feels derivative. Annisokay have digested their influences and created something that sounds distinctly like them.
Abyss – The Final Chapter maintains its momentum right through to the end. The closing tracks carry significant emotional weight. There is a finality to them, which again fits with the album’s title, which feels earned rather than manufactured. Whether this represents the end of a conceptual journey or something more personal to the band, it resonates powerfully. The last moments of the album leave you wanting to immediately hit play again, which is always the mark of something special.
Annisokay have delivered a mature, accomplished, and thoroughly engaging metalcore album that highlights a band at the height of their creative powers. Abyss – The Final Chapter is heavy, melodic, atmospheric, and emotionally resonant.
Abyss- The Final Chapter Track listing:
01 – Into The Abyss
02 – Human
03 – Ultraviolet
04 – Throne Of The Sunset
05 – Calamity
06 – Time
07 – Silent Anchor
08 – Splinters
09 – My Effigy
10 – Get Your Shit Together
11 – Never Enough
12 – Oblivion
13 – Into The Gray
14 – H.A.T.E. feat. Any Given Day
15 – Inner Sanctum
Line-up:
Rudi Schwarzer | Vocals
Christoph Wieczorek | Vocals/Guitar
Norbert Kayo | Bass
Nico Vaeen | Drums
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