Abhorrence: Finnish death metal roots, brief blaze, lasting shadow

Abhorrence

Musical Group

Forfans of early 90s death metal, finnish metal devotees, and amorphis listeners tracing origins.
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The Profile

Abhorrence are a Finnish death metal band formed in Helsinki in 1989. Their brief early run produced the demo Vulgar Necrolatry and a self-titled EP in 1990, influential in shaping the Finnish death metal sound. Guitarist Tomi Koivusaari later co-founded Amorphis. The band reformed in 2012 and issued archival and new material.

Formed in Helsinki in 1989; released the 1990 self-titled EP after the Vulgar Necrolatry demo; played locally and in Norway with Cadaver; stayed at Mayhem’s house; were contacted by Relapse Records; split after not receiving proceeds from EP sales; Tomi Koivusaari later formed Amorphis and revisited Vulgar Necrolatry with singer Jukka Kolehmainen.

Abhorrence are cited as key architects of the early Finnish death metal sound, blending sinister, hypnotic melody with doom-laden weight. The 1990 self-titled EP and the Vulgar Necrolatry demo define their short initial run. Despite label interest, the band split, with guitarist Tomi Koivusaari later co-founding Amorphis. Their brief output influenced the Finnish scene.

Notable Quotes

❝ Among the main architects of this sound are surely Abhorrence, a group born in Helsinki in 1989, at the dawn of the death metal era in Europe, whose very brief history, lasting only a year, did not prevent them from being an example to those who followed.