alt.ABEYANCE

It may be cliché to declare “forget what you know about <insert band here>”, but in the case of Adelaide’s alt. and their debut album ABEYANCE it’s entirely the best way to enter the ten tracks lying in wait as they put their best eclectic foot forward for their maiden LP release.

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Previously roaring to life via their debut EP dysfunctional back in 2020, the alt. mode of operation was always a dark-rimmed take on modern alternative rock; soaring, emphatic and sparkling with sharp production. Increasingly turning heads and rising their streaming stats over the years, alt. would go on to perform with the likes of Northlane, Sleep Token and, most recently, Saosin and Don Broco, while also joining the ranks of Resist Records and SharpTone Records for their debut album adventure. Put simply, alt. have increasingly become a band who capture you instantly if you have been lucky enough to cross paths with them so far; and if you haven’t, their debut record ABEYANCE unquestionably affirms that alt. are no longer a band to watch – this is a band ready for prime time.

Opening with rave-ready, ominous electronics, ABEYANCE kicks off with PARASITE; a swaying metalcore-esque beast that firmly establishes the staggering glow up alt. have achieved in a short space of time. With oscillating textures and vocalist Daniel Cullen-Richards showcasing his seamless work between clean and harsher vocals, PARASITE leads immediately into WRAITH which hulks with heaving guitarwork, dark pop hues and gleeful discordant metallic elements throughout. 

For those who have been playing along in the lead up to ABEYANCE’s release, tracks like THE GREAT DEPRESSION, A.D.D and APEP, featuring a blistering turn courtesy of Void Of Vision’s Jack Bergin, will already feel familiar with their heavier moments laden alongside sparser arrangements, crystalline tones and stirring lyricism. But perhaps the ultimate bridge between the new and the old alt. comes in the form of the Adelaide lot’s most recent single, the lush, glam and voraciously shadowy FRIENDINTHEDARK which hints at the likes of Palaye Royale and the like with an earworm chorus alongside fluctuating simplicity and shattering instrumentation. 

In an age where imitation overflows, it’s exhilarating to witness a young band embrace ambition so fluidly and emerge with something entirely their own.

While alt. are certainly more than equipped in their bulkier moments, there’s also a sea of new stylistic surprises sprinkled across ABEYANCE. From the bouncy BACK TO EARTH, a track that could almost double as present-day Ocean Grove jam, to the moody and slick hip hop undertones of THE ONLY GOOD THING, alt. make it abundantly clear that they aren’t a band willing to be pigeonholed; a fact which may have heavy fans initially clutching their pearls, but it’s ultimately also a fact that is entirely refreshing and exciting as ABEYANCE journeys on, closing with its title track and the soft, blooming beauty of BETTER OFF LEAVING.

Starting life just before their first ever EP released into the world, ABEYANCE overflows with careful curation and polished execution, from the sharp interwoven guitarwork to its cascading drums, prowling basslines and striking vocals throughout from Richards. When they’re heavy, they are irresistible, but when alt. also traipse into sonic universes inspired by the likes of Post Malone, Billie Eilish and beyond, they are clearly equally thriving. In an age where imitation overflows, it’s exhilarating to witness a young band embrace ambition so fluidly and emerge with something entirely their own. ABEYANCE may be alt.’s first official album, but this is only truly the beginning of some spectacular things to come. 

STANDOUT TRACKS: PARASITE, APEP, FRIENDINTHEDARK
STICK THIS NEXT TO: Bring Me The Horizon hanging out with Billie Eilish and Post Malone