The death metal band Abysmal Dawn was formed in Los Angeles in December of 2003 following the departure of Charles Elliott from Rise. The band recorded a self-titled demo in the autumn of 2004 and recruited bassist Mike Bear of Prototype fame. Several concerts with Krisiun, Aborted and others followed. The band signed to Crash Music in the winter of 2006 and soon issued the From Ashes album. The album was recorded at Shiva Industries. Bassist Arriola was soon recruited. The band was added to the Grave and Dismember tour of North America in 2006 and then subsequently dropped from the line-up. The gang parted ways with bassist Carlos Arriola in January of 2007 due to personal differences. Mike Cosio (Grave Desecration and formerly of Excretion) joined the band on bass in March. The band left Crash Music in late 2007 and was looking for a new label. The band was also recording a new album. The band (now Jamie Boulanger: guitars, Charles Elliott: guitars, vocals, Terry Barajas: drums and Mike Cosio: bass) was currently working on its Relapse debut and follow-up to From Ashes as of early 2008.

ABYSMAL DAWN – FROM ASHES – CRASH  
Death metal fans, listen up! Neither the fastest nor the heaviest band around, though extreme by any measure, young Los Angeles band Abysmal Dawn’s nine-track debut album combines all the elements one expects from a band in the sub-genre in precise proportions for perfection. Taking its cues from Krisiun (riffs), Florida death metal (vocals, tight delivery and leads) and even soloing a la Necrophobic’s debut The Nocturnal Silence, From Ashes by former Rise (get it?) personnel packs a punch both powerful and commendable. The band has also wisely deemed it necessary to add just enough variety to keep the delivery fresh without deviating from the core of the sub-genre. The result, both die-hards and casual death metal listeners may come to appreciate From Ashes. Be it the excellent leads, the multiple vocal tones or the tempo changes, the mixture keeps things fresh without ever giving one the feeling of being short-changed. Barely an American death metal album this year will top From Ashes. The sound production by one John Haddad is also clearly complimentary.
Songs like In The Hands Of Death, Blacken Sky and Crown Desire will rip the skin off one’s face, but keep the death metal fan’s smile intact. – Ali “The Metallian”