An Abstract Illusion "No Dreams Beyond Empty Horizons" - Official Video

An Abstract Illusion

The Sleeping City

Willowtip Records

17 October 2025

Alright, so The Sleeping City is the third full album from AN ABSTRACT ILLUSION. Now, these folks got their own way of doing things. They blend that progressive death metal and black metal, throwing in some arpeggiating synths and drones, along with these huge, wide-open soundscapes that kind of take you back to themm sci-fi movie soundtracks. It is a real trip, like you are wandering through some old futuristic town. This here album is heavy and atmospheric, like it is reaching into the darker parts of your mind. They are talking about human feelings and suffering, digging into those tough emotions, like taking a long walk through your own head, with all its twists and turns. And that sleeping city? Well, it is old and worn down, but still mighty grand in its own way. It is like one of those big, forgotten landmarks that is seen better days, but still stands tall, waiting for you to come and see what is left behind. So, if you are up for a heavy listen with a whole lot of atmosphere and some deep thinking thrown in, this album's got you covered.

The band comments on the forthcoming album:

“When we compose an album we don't want it to just be a collection of random songs, we want a holistic theme coursing through the album's veins. When writing The Sleeping City we wanted to explore what the soundtrack to a dystopian sci-fi film, such as Blade Runner or Terminator, would sound like if it were written by a death metal band.

For The Sleeping City, we took inspiration from acts such as Depeche Mode, My Bloody Valentine, Kite, Ólafur Arnalds and Boards of Canada, pushing us to expand and refine our sound palette. Going from the long-song format of Woe, it was a fun challenge to once again write self-contained songs with a clear beginning and end.

During the creation of this album we worked with a great team of collaborators. Produced by the band’s own Karl Westerlund, The Sleeping City was once again mixed and mastered by Robin Leijon. Drums were recorded and produced by Jakob Herrmann (Devin Townsend, Evergrey, VOLA, Vildhjärta) at the legendary Top Floor Studios in Gothenburg, who has captured some of our all-time favorite drum tones. The gorgeous artwork, a homage to early black metal's painted artworks, was done by Alex Eckman-Lawn (Horrendous, Afterbirth, Woe, Nero Di Marte). We also worked with amazing musicians who provided us with beautiful strings and vocals.

With The Sleeping City we truly feel we’ve elevated our craft beyond anything we’ve done before and can’t wait for its release. Thank you all for your continued support!”

An Abstract Illusion "No Dreams Beyond Empty Horizons" - Official Video

The Sleeping City by An Abstract Illusion

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