Abysmal Dawn

Abysmal Dawn's 2006 debut album, From Ashes, finally receives the distribution it so strongly deserves with a reissue via Relapse. The L.A.-based band take traditional death metal and add Scandinavian-esque melodies and blazing solos, as well as modern technical guitar work and heavy double bass. The remastered From Ashes is a classic example of where the genre can be taken without completely reinventing the wheel. Opener "Impending Doom" and "In the Hands of Death" are unrelenting headbangers that feature intense rhythms, while tracks like "Solitude's Demise" highlight Abysmal Dawn's melodic tendencies, making them sound more like they're from Sweden than California. From Ashes showcases the promise that would result in their third full-length, Leveling the Plane of Existence, which was one of 2011's most exceptional modern death metal releases. The reissue also features three bonus tracks, making it even more worthwhile.