REVIEW: Ablation - Lethal Abuse

Consisting of members of some seriously big names in heavy music, ABLATION is the new death metal supergroup that you need to listen to. The iconic NY death metal scene is one that needs no introduction for long-time listeners of extreme metal, and so a band with members from SANGUISUGABOGG, SUFFOCATION and DEHUMANIZED should feel right at home.

Their first release, the EP Lethal Abuse, is a six track hit-and-run intent only on causing sonic decimation - luckily enough, the title track (and lead single) opens the EP to do just that. Starting off with a nice aggressive sample, as all good death metal and hardcore releases should, it swiftly launches into assault on all the senses, battering the listener into submission in moments. Track two, Victim Kink, not only carries on the brute-force pummelling from the song before, but also introduces a very special guest - rejoining his two former bandmates Eric Morotti and Derek Boyer, both members of ABLATION, comes the one and only Frank Mullen; original vocalist of SUFFOCATION, making a return to the microphone.

Tracks three and four are no different in their single-minded aim of destruction, as Sporadic Slaughtering and Indecorous Disembodiment make eardrums into some form of soup, before Mullen once again joins the fray - talk about kicking us while we’re down - on the penultimate song Eradicating The Feebleminded. Finale Immersed In Carrion ties everything up in a lovely, bloody, slightly meaty, gristly, and rather chewy bow, with something that most definitely isn’t a cherry on top, but you would not want to look any closer to find out what it actually is.

Now to say that this EP does only one thing would not be fair, there is notable variation between tracks, tempo changes, different drum lines and riff styles can certainly be found across the entire release. However, it does not actually matter in the slightest whether it evolves hugely or not in any capacity, as you’re not listening to this for ‘musical progression’ or ‘evolving technique’. This is music for gurning and headbanging, or for crowdkilling. Or for brooding on top of a really tall building in a mask that looks like a bat but is legally distinct from being a Batman mask and then jumping down to pummel people who are in costumes that resemble henchmen for a clown, but are of course legally distinct from being associated with the Joker (who is of course not called the Joker). Long story short, go listen to this if you need to be really angry and want a suitably crushing soundtrack to yell along to. It’ll be a blast.

Score: 9/10

Lethal Abuse will be released on 29th May 2026 via Fortress Records.

Words: Jasmine Longhurst

Photos: Kamryn Nickdow