I have to admit…Mat McNerny was not on my musical radar. His roots in the Norwegian Black Metal scene are outside of my realms of interest. But when this song came over the transom it slipped right into that sweet spot that we know and love. The kind of bad that feels so good. With a title like “Another Day, Another Abyss” it sure sounds like it was written for these, the end times.

The driving motorik beat was down to the classic bass, guitars and drums that sometimes get buried under synths and production. But at the end of the day, this is all we really need to make an impact. Nate Newton’s bass chug motors the track along at a nice clip as drummer Tor [Viagra Boys] Sjödén interjected a great drum hook on the off beats throughout the song. With McNerny’s guitars ringing along for the harmony.

When Mr. McNerny entered the song I was treated to a vocal of clarity and poise. Not at all what I was expecting from the press photo! Here was a singer content to let the music and lyrics to have their impact without over egging the dish with guttural delivery or effects. It makes perfect sense, even if it flies in the face of expectations. With lyrics this to the point, only an idiot would want to obscure them. And McNernry’s no idiot, as we can hear below.

I loved how the rhythm guitar here gave the track a almost Ska-like rhythm skank as the vibe of the track was more in the direction of early Cure. The song grips your lapels and doesn’t waste a second of your three minutes. And it’s over way before you can even think about being bored. McNerny calls this work “Apocalyptic Post-Punk” and when such words are bandied about, can the spectre of Killing Joke be far behind? Apparently not, because Big Paul Ferguson is also a guest musician on the upcoming “Slime Of The Times”‘ album due for release on September 19th on CD/LP.

Scorpion Milk: Slime Of the Times – UK – CD [2025]

1. All the Fear 3:34
2. The Will to Live 4:06
3. She Wolf of London 3:11
4. Another Day Another Abyss 3:07
5. Wall To Wall 3:46
6. Slime of the Times 4:57
7. Silver Pigs 4:41
8. All Snakes No Ladders 4:03
9. Children are Dust 4:41

The Peaceville store has the album in pre-order with the black LP at $24.99, the red LP at $26.99, and the CD at $15.99. This song had such a clarity of vision and delivery that I am interested in hearing where this ship sails to. If you are in agreement, then DJ hit that button!

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