I’d mark the secret entrance to the oubliette with the Abuse Repression logo as the band has no doubt honed its craft in just such a dingy dungeon, at least that is what the screeching, blackened riffs and throbbing low-end pulses and squeals and squelches of feedback illicit. Make no mistake about today’s new music review, “600 Failed Attempts” is an exploration in black metal influenced screamo and noise in equal parts.

Southeast Michigan’s Abuse Repression have been a force to be reckoned with since their inception as a band. They’ve shared the stage with a veritable who’s who of screamo in the last few years, all while putting out a steady stream of music which includes a 5-song EP and this split EP with Michigan’s Pigliacci. The band recently toured throughout the Midwest and East Coast, where you either caught them in all their spastic glory, or saw pictures on the ‘gram of the unhinged thrashing and wailing that fuels the live set.

“We have self recorded everything in our warehouse practice space in downtown Detroit,” vocalist Luc writes in our correspondence. The opening riffing feels at its blackest here, and it isn’t black metal in the “boy wasn’t Sunbather good” sense, but more likely influenced by swords, sorcery, and Darkthrone. This is demonstrated both in the writing and through the production (the record was mixed and mastered by the Abuse Repression guitarist Quinn alongside Churro Lightyear).

Dungeon dwelling, Magic the Gathering playing baddies will find themselves comforted by the inspiration behind the latest and greatest: “Honestly, same as the rest of our other music, personal struggle in the face of a world that does not give a shit about you.” Though sonically you should brace yourself for screamo that revels in the chaotic approach of Orchid or Pg. 99 while blending that sound with the noise of Man is the Bastard or, to offer the audience something contemporary, Full of Hell.

The ability to seamlessly weave the variety of styles is no doubt a testament to the myriad side projects and the vast influence each member brings to the practice space. “If someone has an idea they will bring it to the band and we will jam it at practice. Same thing if someone is trying to write something and stuck at a certain part, we’ll try and see what other ideas the rest of the band has to flesh out songs.” This approach hasn’t failed them yet, casting powerful spells all while expanding the palette of the audience.

“THIS RELEASE IS EXTREMELY SPECIAL TO US AS IT IS A SPLIT RELEASE WITH OUR FRIENDS IN THE BAND PIGLIACCI, WHO HAVE DONE A LOT TO HELP US GROW INTO OUR SPACE IN THE SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN SCREAMO COMMUNITY. WITHOUT THEM AND THE PEOPLE SURROUNDING THIS SCENE IN OUR AREA WE WOULD BE NOTHING.”

- LUC, @ABUSEREPRESSION

“600 Failed Attempts” is a powerful and punishing track worthy of pummeling your ear-holes. The track is featured on a split with Pigliacci titled “Crucifixion Exercise” and is available through Tombstone Pressing. Grab the physical release, buy it on Bandcamp, fuck with it however you want, just make sure you fuck with it. Be on the lookout for more Abuse Repression, and if you’re local to Michigan, catch them in a Hardcore vs. Screamo battle at Bella’s Beatdown Bunker on October 18th.

Abuse repression is Lucas on vocals/samples, Destin on drums, Quinn on guitar, and Micah on bass/vocals.

Follow them on bandcamp here : Abuse Repression

Writer : @garevthistle

Editor : @just_reidz

10/08/25

Follow & support Not Just A Phase by helping us continue to grow and cover more bands through patreon.com/notjustaphaseworldwide and buymeacoffee.com/notjustaphaseworldwide

Abuse Repression

“THIS RELEASE IS EXTREMELY SPECIAL TO US AS IT IS A SPLIT RELEASE WITH OUR FRIENDS IN THE BAND PIGLIACCI, WHO HAVE DONE A LOT TO HELP US GROW INTO OUR SPACE IN THE SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN SCREAMO COMMUNITY. WITHOUT THEM AND THE PEOPLE SURROUNDING THIS SCENE IN OUR AREA WE WOULD BE NOTHING.”

- LUC, @ABUSEREPRESSION

Aversions

NOT JUST A PHASE