Memnock – vocals, upright bass
Elvorn – guitar
Borg – synth, orchestration
Makhashanah – bass, vocals
Tjodalv – drums

Abyssic is a Norwegian symphonic death/doom metal band whose roots date back to 1997, when bassist and vocalist Memnock (Håkon Didriksen) founded the project under the name Abyssic Dreams. Together with drummer Athera he recorded a two-song demo, but the project was subsequently put on hold while the musicians concentrated on other bands, most notably Susperia.

After years of inactivity, Memnock resurrected the project in 2012 and shortened the name to Abyssic. The revived band gradually developed into a collaboration involving several experienced musicians from the Norwegian extreme metal scene, including guitarist Elvorn (Christian Hagen) of Susperia and keyboardist/orchestrator André Aaslie, known from bands such as Funeral, Images at Twilight and Gromth.

Abyssic's music combines crushing and atmospheric death/doom and funeral doom with symphonic arrangements and elements drawn from black metal and progressive rock. One of the band's most distinctive characteristics is the extensive use of orchestration, Mellotron, Minimoog and especially upright bass, giving their music an unusually deep and cinematic character.

Together with drummer Asgeir Mickelson, whose extensive background includes Borknagar and work with Ihsahn, the band recorded its debut album, A Winter's Tale. Released through Osmose Productions in February 2016, the album established Abyssic's monumental approach through extremely long compositions combining slow, crushing doom with elaborate orchestral passages.

Later in 2016 the lineup was strengthened by drummer Tjodalv (Ian Kenneth Åkesson), known from Susperia and his previous work with Dimmu Borgir and Old Man's Child, and bassist Makhashanah (Henriette Bordvik), formerly of Sirenia. Tjodalv is listed as a member of Abyssic from 2017 onwards.

The band's second full-length, High the Memory, followed in February 2019. Stretching to more than 77 minutes, the album further expanded Abyssic's symphonic and progressive side while retaining the immense weight and sombre atmosphere of their debut. Keyboards and orchestration became an integral part of the compositions rather than merely an atmospheric backdrop, accompanying lengthy pieces such as the twenty-minute title track and Where My Pain Lies.

Abyssic returned in October 2022 with their third album, Brought Forth in Iniquity. The band described the material as faster, more violent and more brutal than its predecessors while simultaneously pushing the orchestral arrangements further. The album contains five lengthy compositions and closes with the eighteen-minute title track.

Through their combination of massive death/doom riffs, funeral-doom pacing, progressive structures and extensive orchestration, Abyssic have carved out a distinctive position within Norwegian extreme metal. Rather than relying solely on the minimalism traditionally associated with funeral doom, the band builds dense, dramatic and highly arranged compositions where crushing heaviness and symphonic grandeur exist side by side.

Full-length albums:

A Winter's Tale - 2016
High the Memory - 2019
Brought Forth in Iniquity - 2022
Trollsyn - 2027

Symphonic Doom Metal/Death Metal
Norway