Seeking revenge for the death of her son, Grendel’s mother drives her sword into Beowulf. “This on the axis læg / breostnet broden”, writes the Beowulf poet, “þæt gebearh feore, / wið ord ond wið ecge ingang forstod”. For those not fluent in Old English: Beowulf’s chainmail saved his life, withstanding both the edge and the “ord” (point/spear) of the vengeful matriarch’s sword. From this archaic term for a sword’s spear-point, Ordh draws its name, which may suggest to readers an Anglo-Saxon war metal group. This (murderous) work of art by Paolo Girardi, however, screams cosmic-prog death, with Blind in Abyssal Realms being the Vermont quartet’s first full-scale assault on the metal community. Ordh should be sharper than Grendel’s mother’s sword, though, since the general chainmail of progressive death metal is more tightly woven than the one that adorns the King of Giants.
The cosmic-prog death of Blind in Abyssal Realms claims roots in a more earthy sub-genre. After the breakup of the progressive sludge bands Barishi, guitarist Graham Brooks joined forces with singer Jonathan Hébert of sludge-doomers Come to Grief to form a new band. Moving from the sludge of sludge to the weight of death metal while retaining progressive and doom elements, Ordh end up sounding like atmospheric Mortiferum. Brooks’s riffs, whether on low or high strings, always possess grandeur, and his solos sparkle like Jackson Pollock splattering paint on a canvas. Brooks also handled the album’s synthesizers, which are noticeable but never overpower the guitar work. Hébert’s throaty vocals keep things earthy, screaming at the sky from his earthly cave. Along with Brooks and Hébert are rhythm section Josh Smith (bass) and Dylan Blake (drums, formerly Barishi). Blake especially stands out, combining typical death-metal pounding with jazz roving and glorious rototom runs. Given Ordh‘s prior experience in sludge, it’s impressive how sharp their first foray into cosmic-prog death is, as they stand against bands like Cosmic Putrefaction and Blood Incantation .
What makes Blind in Abyssal Realms so impressive is the balance of atmosphere with immediately memorable riffs. The opening “Apis Bull” demonstrates this dichotomy perfectly. The large, pliable figure of O ld peth alternates with a spacey, higher-frequency version of itself before exploring new ground. Similarly, “Moon of Urd” emerges with a delightfully deranged ear that reveals a rich cover of clear psychic twilight. “Phlegraean Fields”, the most adventurous song here, builds a constantly transforming, synthesizer-laden melody, capturing a stranger surveying a mythical landscape with curiosity that recalls terror. From the start, Ordh understand that the “cosmic” in “cosmic-prog death” shouldn’t be aesthetic. Indeed, the synthesizers consistently support excellent riffs on this debut, lending them enriching depth.
Some aspects of Blind in Abyssal Realms blunt its attack. In terms of production, the album sounds good but lacks low frequencies. The cave-man parts aren’t as powerful as they should be. Blake’s kick drum could use more oomph, and Smith’s bass is often hard to detect in anything other than clean spots. As for the album’s pacing, the last two tracks don’t quite match the ascending quality of the opening trio. “Blind in Abyssal Realms” is a powerful song that, at over 12 minutes, could need editing. “Hierothesion” closes the album refreshingly as its most straightforward pummeler, but similarly, a little brevity would enhance its impact. And when it comes to originality, Ordh mostly sound like themselves, though occasionally the combinations of blast beats, dive bombs and “aaghs!” are a bit overdone relative to Blood Incantation .
- Read also: Desoration – NON Review | Metal Territory
Beyond the fine nuances, Ordh prove themselves right with Blind in Abyssal Realms. It’s an impressive debut that leaves its mark on progressive death metal. Consisting of five tracks in a little less than 45 minutes, Blind in Abyssal Realms proceeds as a filler-free affair, trading violent slashes with relaxed parries in a way that invites repeated listens. Fans of the genre should definitely grapple with this sonic sword. Swīðe gōd weorc, Ordh !
Rating : 3.5/5.0
DR : 6 | Format reviewed : 320 kbps mp3
Record label : Pulverised Records
Websites : Bandcamp | Instagram | Facebook
Worldwide release : April 17, 2026
