Abhorrance

Abhorrence formed in the late 1980s, drawing from the raw intensity of bands like Celtic Frost and Possessed. Their early sound found a cult following in the death metal underground despite lineup changes and financial constraints. Their debut album 'Verehrt von Wahn und Depression' came out in 1990, establishing their approach with menacing riffs and tormented vocals.

Thomas Gannicott has been the vocalist since the beginning, with guitarists Jürgen Bartsch and Stefan Bock, bassist Marc Niederhagemann, and drummer Tobias Merkel forming the core lineup over time. Their lyrics often dealt with difficult themes like suicide and mental illness, which drew criticism from some quarters while others saw it as an honest reflection of darker realities.

Later albums like 'The Megalomaniac' and 'Megalohydrothalassophobia' showed the band experimenting with ambient, industrial, and progressive elements while keeping their extreme metal foundation. A track like 'Affliction Of An Expended Romance' from 1992 captures their blend of melancholic melodies and relentless rhythms, exploring themes of relationship despair and loss.

Their willingness to push boundaries earned them a reputation for innovation within the genre, and they influenced many other bands in the extreme metal scene.