Shipwreck A.D. "Abyss"

In 2005, it was Modern Life Is War's Witness. In 2006, it was Have Heart's The Things We Carry. This year, I'm thinking it's Shipwreck A.D.'s Abyss.

And exactly what is "it?" It's that one hardcore record of each year that, for me, is especially powerful, soulful and moving -- mentally and physically.

Abyss is an ebbing and flowing slab of mid-paced, metallic hardcore. Loaded with bold, bass-y grooves, urgent chord progressions, ample chunkiness, tastefully climactic peaks and hoarse, let-it-all-out shouting, the record packs plenty of surface-level similarities to legendary material from Cleveland greats Integrity and Ringworm, and contemporary stuff from Have Heart. But those really are surface-level comparisons; Shipwreck constantly reaches into their proverbial stronghold of character and personality to bring a unique approach to Abyss.

This is no breakdown-laden, straightedge-advocating, gang vocals-heavy, uplifting hardcore album. (That's not to say that any of those qualities are inherently bad.) Abyss is deeper in terms of musical quality and inventiveness, incorporating unexpected elements, from dark, twisted guitar riffs and scant acoustic passages to faint female singing and hints of lumbering post-metal. While it almost sounds indulgent for a hardcore record, these elements are comfortably and relatively subtly nestled in the metallic hardcore foundation. And, more importantly, they go a long way in rounding the overarching bleakness that accents Shipwreck's sound and lyrics.

Through 11 songs, Abyss tells the story of a person's not-so-life-affirming trek from the depths of the sea to the top of a mountain. You'd expect a tale of strength and determination with that sort of storyline, but it turns out to be a scornful, self-questioning journey. The narrative quality alone will keep listeners who read along captivated, but there's also meaning in the metaphors -- in "Ascent" singer J.D. ties himself (or the band in general) to a volcanic eruption:

the misery that dwells in me
wrath flowing through every vein
I feel the knot begin to tie
internal pressure starts to rise
fangs of temper bite my chest
with crushing jaws, it overwhelms
the lava, the angst, the eruption
from the --
from all the hate I try to redirect
from all the pain I don't let affect
my stone face, it's like this mountain is me
solid to the eye, but melting underneath

This is somewhat long-winded, but there's still more I could say. I'll leave it at this: Abyss is a special record, with a unique delivery and a personality that's largely based on the band itself -- not hundreds of predecessors.

Download: Shipwreck A.D. - Helix

Get it from the Deathwish Inc. store.