Archaic Abattoir, The - Aborted

Advantages: May be the most accessible album for new fans!
Disadvantages: May not be the most accessible album for new fans.

...Nick Cave has been gothing it up for the best part of three decades and shows little signs of giving up the (dark, chair-rattling, Old Testament thumping) ghost just yet. His Birthday Party was at the forefront of punk, getting hyped for song titles as leftfield as “Big Jesus Trash Can” when I was in short-trousers and listening to Pinky and Perky. The Bad Seeds albums have seen the emergence of a mature, song-writing Cave, now more likely to get his kicks from a piano ballad than bone-crushing guitar noise. But as his latest double album Abattoir Blue/The Lyre Of Orpheus shows, his healthy love for the darker side of the soul and the mysticism of God are as strong as ever. And with velveteen song titles such as Cannibal’s Hymn, Fable Of The Brown Ape and O Children and lyrics to match he has lost none of his sly sense... Read review

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Advantages: Some Outstanding Tunes, some of Caves best works
Disadvantages: takes time to grow on you

...Nick Cave is probably one of the most critically aclaimed song writers of our era - and not without reason. Ever since his days with The Birthday Party he has been releasing album after album of stunning songs. Coming across like a dirtier Tom Waits at times (if that is possible?) and at others bringing you some beautiful love songs - he has always been moving forward creatively with his music. The Lyre Of Orpheus / Abattoir Blues continues this journey. Double albums usually prove to be notoriously difficult to pull off, but this is definitely not a problem for Mr. Cave and his Bad Seeds. Each disc is packed with stunning stories of love, australian life, and even a spot of murder to keep the old school fans happy. It also provides Nick with one of his most commercial outings yet - in the form of first single from the album, "There... Read review

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Advantages: Refines and incorporates further melodic elements into their sound.
Disadvantages: Owes a significant debt to Carcass' 'Heartwork.'

...The newest album from Aborted continues in the same vein as its predecessor, moving towards a pleasing fusion of melodic death metal and the brutal goregrind of their earlier albums. The resulting concoction reaches its zenith here, heavy enough to satisfy long-time fans and without the frightening brain-hammering that would put off queasier newcomers. This Belgian band's transition from gore-obsessed noise to something more musically accomplished and traditional follows directly in the bloodied footsteps of the disbanded Liverpool band Carcass over ten years earlier, and the inspiration is fully acknowledged through a guest performance by Carcass' Jeff Walker on two songs, allowing Aborted complete freedom to rip his band's sound off almost completely. 'Slaughter and Apparatus: A Methodical Overture' is more than a simple 'Heartwork... Read review

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