Gradience – “This Abyss” [Song Review]

Rap and metal have a long and varied history. Aerosmith and Run DMC may have pioneered things back in 1986 with “Walk This Way,” and the Beastie Boys may have fused elements of both in their unique offerings to music, but it wasn’t until 1993’s now-legendary Judgement Night soundtrack that we saw true hybridization between the genres taking place. Who can forget Ice-T and Slayer’s “Disorder,” or “Just Another Victim” from Helmet and House of Pain? On the flip side, though, this did lead to the inevitable advent of the stain on musical history dubbed nu-metal, but even so, luminaries can be isolated within this morass of mediocrity.

However, it’s taken nearly thirty years for black metal to stop taking itself so seriously that it could even entertain the possibility of trap and hip-hop entering their sacred (and honestly, fairly lame) halls – and the Danish duo Gradience are the ones responsible for this leap in combinational creativity. Case in point: their genre-defying, boundary-pushing first single, “This Abyss.”

The vitriol and despair of the subject matter – that of destructive relationships – is perfectly matched to the crushing ‘metal’ aspect of the music, a sonic façade built on riffs that teeter between deathcore and melodic black metal. But it’s the cold delivery of the lyrics by frontman Gavin Mistry that really positions “This Abyss” firmly in the darker end of the spectrum.

In that light, the hybrid genre pairing works remarkably well, but it also highlights the one drawback the duo faces: any lighter subject matter they choose to investigate may not translate as effectively within such limited stylistic confines. Nevertheless, an interesting take on a tested recipe – albeit with fresh spice.

Runtime: 2:35
Release Date: January 10, 2024
Record Label: Audible Music

Gradience in 2024