The COVID-19 pandemic certainly didn't leave the metal world untouched. Obviously, tours ground to a halt and the boredom didn't help to inspire some musicians. However, it was a time when new and younger bands began becoming noticed more due to the downtime people had, allowing them to check out more music. In 2020, Swiss band Ad Infinitum released their debut album, "Chapter 1: Monarchy," in April 2020, right after the world shut down, but instead of slowing down, they kicked on, with an acoustic version of the album out before the year's end and a sophomore effort following the next Summer. Now in late 2024, Ad Infinitum's determination has paid off and they're on the verge of hitting the road as the main support for Kamelot, along with the release of their fourth album, "Abyss."

Almost immediately, it's apparent that "Abyss" will be something different from what fans are used to. "My Halo," the first song of the album, offers a bit more of a nu-metal flavour than one might expect, and it's a sound that remains throughout the album. Of course, this doesn't mean that Ad Infinitum has turned into Limp Bizkit or Korn, and many of the traits listeners love are still there. Most importantly, Melissa Bonny is in as fine a form as ever, delivering the hypnotic, siren-esque clean singing that has already made her such a force in metal, along with some really fierce growls. "Abyss" feels very much like Ad Infinitum's "Karmacode," the album that divided Lacuna Coil fans for its more commercial sound, but like that record, the change has a lot of positives and can pave the way for great success.

Once you get past the more mainstream elements, assuming you had any issue with them in the first place, there are a lot of really good songs to enjoy. "Outer Space," another of the singles, is a definite highlight. It's an excellent mix of metal heaviness and dreamy melody, resulting in quite a beautiful song. Elsewhere, "Dead End" sounds like it's going to go down very well in the live setting, as does "Follow Me Down," the latter of which would also make for a really good single. One of the main strengths of these songs, and the record as a whole, is the memorable hooks that really help make "Abyss" an album that will stick with fans for years to come.

While there's a lot to like about the record, there are a few things that may work against the band. The aforementioned commercial direction is no skin off my nose, but it won't please everyone. Sometimes the mix tends to work in reverse, namely when it comes to "Surrender," which is akin to a pop song with an explosive metal chorus. It's such a surprise when the chorus kicks in that it's almost jarring, but it's not bad and certainly doesn't ruin the song. Other songs work well as a piece of the machine, but aren't necessarily strong tracks of their own, such as "Parasite."

Four albums into their career and Ad Infinitum has matured enormously in a short space of time. This isn't disparaging the early albums, which are as good as ever, but they've grown in ways that a lot of their contemporaries haven't. They're a band with phenomenal talent and Melissa Bonny's voice is so gorgeous that it will keep fans loyal through any stylistic changes. It should be noted that "Abyss" isn't a complete departure, and fans may even like the sounds that call back to Bonny's previous band, Rage Of Light, but it is a surprising album. There's a lot more to like than dislike and it feels like a necessary step to increase their status and standing in the metal landscape.