ABEYANCE

Yet another of those bands bursting with potential, on the right track, and probably destined for great works if the vagaries of the real world don't do them in… but like so many before them, ABEYANCE is just not quite there yet — they're missing that crucial something that would put them into the upper echelon of the scene. For a young band's national debut, though, "Experience Is the Words That Are Written" isn't too shabby.

ABEYANCE would have no problem fitting on a bill with any current metalcore heroes, but happily, they're on the heavier end of that spectrum, more enamored with death metal and MESHUGGAH riffs than with melodic choruses or poppy bullshit. Think DEAD TO FALL — aesthetically aligned with hardcore or metalcore, but drawing a lot of inspiration from straight death metal. That's not to say there aren't the occasional DILLINGER-derived guitar skronks, or the uses of the overplayed "say the lyrics three times in a really overwrought speaking voice and then bellow the last line" hardcore trick. But you can tell ABEYANCE, even if they haven't stepped out of the shadow of their influences yet, at least have a better batch of influences to start with.

The muddy, low-end-heavy production doesn't do the band any favors, and the performances could be tighter. But moments of raw talent sneak out, as on "In Between Social Niceties", which ties together the band's disparate influences into the most complete package. Instrumental "The Paths That Lie Before Us" is also noteworthy, a simple and moving piece in the vein of KATATONIA that is one of the more affecting moments on the album.

It's gonna be too easy to give "Experience…" a quick listen and toss it to the side — the band's inexperience and youthful lack of vision render the album a shaky first step, and not a serious contender. But dammit, there's something here — it's hard not to recommend this album more than it deserves, if only to try to give ABEYANCE the momentum they'll need to stick around long enough to grow into their record contract. Consider this recording a promising demo, and keep an eye on them once they've got some more touring and living under their belts.