It’s noise rock. And psych rock. And, of course, hardcore punk. Abdomen embrace many genres, and at every turn, they bring full energy and dive right in. Their new album, Yes, I Don’t Know (FatCat), was two years in the making. Listening to the final result, that long creative process makes perfect sense.
This is a rock album that feels meticulously crafted in every second. The Dutch trio never lets a moment pass without throwing five new ideas into the mix. Overloaded? Surprisingly, no. The transitions are fluid and well-balanced. More than once, you might catch yourself thinking you’ve moved on to the next track—only to realize it’s still the same one. With some songs running over six minutes, the music is given plenty of space to breathe.
So, what do we get? The opener is fairly straightforward, leaning toward noisy hardcore punk. Screeching guitar solos cut through the heaviness. Then Dazed takes a turn, suddenly shifting into psychedelic territory—after that, anything feels possible.
There’s post-rock on Weird Shapes, delicate tinkering on Good Vibes, and Neurotic traps itself in a noise-rock loop. The album closes with Das Kapital, a krautrock-infused finale.
It’s brilliant how Abdomen manage to twist and turn without ever feeling disjointed. Despite its unpredictability, this is a remarkably cohesive rock album. How that’s even possible? You’ll have to listen a few times to find out.
Abdomen – Yes, I Don´t Know: Noise rock masterclass – RIFL