Abysmal Dawn are a band I’ve followed since the very beginning. While I’ve shown my support for the band, I’ve also been a harsh critic of their material, as I have always felt that this is a band full of great potential, yet never reaches it to the fullest. Namely, their songwriting just is not a standout feature. As a result, much of their material is well executed but lacking in originality and that special unique quality that could separate them from the pack.

So how does this EP stack up to their previous efforts? Well, it’s difficult to say, as only one song is an original, but for what it’s worth, that one original song, being the first track, is very promising. The second track is a re-recorded song from their 2006 debut album, From Ashes. The third track is a cover of "Behind Space," originally by In Flames, while the fourth and last track is a cover of "Bewitched," originally by Candlemass. Yeah, that’s a nice dose of variety on this four-track EP! And believe it or not, the Candlemass cover is very, very good! Vocalist Charles Elliott sounds very in his element singing like Messiah Marcolin with great control and tone. The band play the style so well that I could not help but contemplate perhaps this should indicate a new direction for Abysmal Dawn, or at least a new project. The In Flames cover was also very well done, and is a very dynamic song full of highlight moments which are executed very well. The melodic sensibilities of the song feel great.

On the other hand, we are really only getting one new Abysmal Dawn original with this release. That track, entitled "A Nightmare Slain," carries a different energy from previous efforts and is one of the more melodic offerings in their catalogue. I would even say that it is not a stretch to mention that at times the track sounded a bit like The Black Dahlia Murder with deeper vocals and a different set of drum tones. There are a bit of contrasting sections within the song, all with great technical and musical sensibilities on display. There’s also a very colorful guitar solo which at first sounds almost as if it was an outtake from a Between the Buried and Me recording session. When examining the features of this track, studying the features of this EP as a whole, and comparing with previous albums, I have a hunch that this EP marks a sense of change for the band, as this release is less brutal and more melodic.

The seemingly new direction potentially implied by the new track seems like a change worth exploring. They are a talented group and have proven that with each release, but have a bit more to figure out in order to stand out from the crowd. Every member of this band is on point with what they are doing, so it is only a matter of time before they find something to stun us all with. This EP is refreshing to listen to and I hope that the band will continue down the path that their newest material is suggesting, as it suits the band very well.