ORDH – Blind In Abyssal Realms

Formed in most recent times, ORDH is the brainchild of ex-Barishi axeman Graham Brooks alongside vocalist Jonathan Hébert (Come to Grief). The name Ordh is taken from archaic English, meaning ‘the tip of a spear or sword. After two spins of their debut release, this term feels fitting. Blind In Abyssal Realms is the highly acclaimed progressive death metal debut album by the Vermont-based quartet, released on April 17, 2026, via Pulverised Records.

Alongside the aforementioned Jonathan Hébert (vocals) and Graham Brooks (guitars, synths & backing vocals) the band is comprised of Dylan Blake (drums), Joshua Smith (bass) and Hannah Hoffman (additional keyboards/synths). At just over forty-three minutes, Blind In Abyssal Realms plays less like a collection of songs and more like a slow descent. The album opens with “Apis Bull” – a thunderous, rhythmically complex opener, featuring a chainsaw guitar tone and some cavernous and deep growling vocals. Next one is called, “Moon Of Urd” which is surprisingly pretty different compared to its predecessor, featuring mid-tempo sludge crushes, volcanic blastbeats, hauntingly beautiful acoustic breaks, and frantic, Iron Maiden-esque progressive solos. “Phlegraean Fields” is a massive, 10-minute progressive epic that showcases the band’s penchant for experimentation. Clocking in at just over 10 minutes long, this particular song perfectly encapsulates the band’s identity by fluidly weaving together cosmic death metal, progressive, psychedelic, and synth-laden soundscapes – providing a heavy dose of atmospheric dread. “Blind In Abyssal Realms” is the 12-minute epic title track, the centerpiece of the record. It is a sprawling, 12-minute journey, with initial slow-burn build-up, featuing chaotic, churning and frantic riffing, swirling frenetic leads and ethereal clean vocals. “Hierothesion” is the fifth and final track on Blind In Abyssal Realms. “Hierothesion” is a bit shorter, ritualistic album’s grand finale that resolves the brutal journey using mournful melodies and ethereal clean vocals. In other words; the track completes a dizzying cosmic-progressive death metal journey with a violent, avant-garde exclamation point.

In general; I felt a hypnotic, claustrophobic and cosmic vibe while listening to a massive walls of sound interweaving with eerie, Pink Floyd-esque clean guitar breathers and complex polyrhythms that the band is constantly creating. Featuring a highly unique songwriting, excellent instrument separation in the mix, organic transitions, and immense technical richness, Blind In Abyssal Realms is definitely one of the best debut albums by any progressive death metal act releassed this year!

The production follows suit. Recorded during different sessions (with drums recorded at ‘Guilford Sound’ and mixing handled by Andrew Oswald from Mortiferum) the album avoids sterility in favor of something more spacious, organic and tactile. Finally, the album’s mind-bending and nightmarish visual aesthetic was done by painter Paolo Girardi (Bell Witch, Chthe’ilist, Sulphur Aeon, etc). The artwork depicts a surreal, swirling vortex of monstrous, sea-like entities colluding in a chasmic, horizonless void. It perfectly mirrors the album’s dark, ominous, yet beautifully cosmic atmosphere.

Highly recommended for fans of Inter Arma, Spectral Voice, Timeghoul, Mortiferum, Entombed, Blood Incantation, Demilich, Pink Floyd and cosmic-prog death metal. I’m excited to see where Ordh goes from here. Meanwhile, listen to Blind In Abyssal Realms in its entirety below and find more information on their bandcamp.