CHRONICLE - Embrace the Abyss (Track Premiere)

Here we are again: the tail end of the week, with a death metal track premiere grasped in our ink-splattered claws. Is this becoming a tradition 'round these parts? Only time--and the good grace of the promo pit, of course--will tell.

But enough about future endeavors. We motley few are gathered here today because Denmark's own Chronicle are gearing up to release their new album, Demonology, via Mighty Music. We're honored to premiere the closing track from said album--and in the form of a killer playthrough music video, no less!

​Check out the melodic-yet-vicious "Embrace the Abyss" here:

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In the process of preparing for this premiere, I (uncharacteristically) focused not on the track in question, but rather on the album as a whole. Needless to say: while "Embrace the Abyss" is indeed a stellar track, it is not the only quality moment the album has to offer. It is, however, a smart choice for a single, as it demonstrates quite effectively the eclectic bombast of Chronicle's brand. From a technical perspective, Chronicle could very well hop in the ring and hold their own against the best of 'em. Their bio cites both The Black Dahlia Murder and Children of Bodom as points of comparison, and, given the level of skill on display, this slumbering scribe doesn't disagree.

Due to a certain thrashy flair, I wouldn't consider this blackened death metal per se, although the vocal delivery does carry itself with a vitriolic and vinegary edge. There's a lot of spite here, and it plays off the relatively crisp axemanship quite well. The sheer energy and keneticism here is incredibly impressive--just when you think the leads are ready to tap out, they spread even further afield into vibrant and complex arrangement. "Embrace the Abyss," as ye have hopefully discovered, is a veritable paragon of this phenom. The back half of the track, in particular, maintains a pseudo-epic quality, complete with a high-flying solo that wouldn't feel out of place in a chest-beating battle hymn. The drum work, it should be noted, is equally impressive--as crisp and clean as one might hope. From both a technical and compositional level, everything clicks inordinately well for a band that hasn't yet achieved placement on the higher echelon of melodic death metal. It's my sincere hope that this album helps raise them up.

Say Chronicle in regards to this forthcoming effort: "We've always strived towards a high level of technicality and musicianship in the music we write, and Demonology represents to us a big step into a heavier and more extreme direction, while maintaining our brand of catchy melodic death metal." While I, for one, am unfamiliar with their previous output, the track above--an the album as a whole--demonstrate a resounding success.

CHRONICLE - Demonology will be released March 27th from Mighty Music