Band: Obliteration
Release: Black Death Horizon (Album)
Release Date: Out Now
From the death metal band’s conception in 2001, Obliteration have toured with countless bands, gotten rave reviews from Norwegian press and they now have three albums in tow. This third album, Black Death Horizon was recorded in their own DIY studio in Kolbotn, Norway, and although it’s only seven tracks long, as they describe it, their ‘haunting death metal’ spans over 45 minutes. But what do we think?
Kicking off with the six minute opener, ‘The Distant Sun’ makes itself apparent as old school death metal with elements of thrash, punk and black metal thrown in. From the trippy time signatures, the demonic vocals and full pelt speed you have a powerful, yet long opening track.
Other noteworthy songs include: ‘Goat Skull Crown’ with it’s immense guitar shredding, intense speed and riffs that won’t quit. However, the vocal quality and tone don’t quite fit with the guitar melody.
For a song that is fairly repetitive, albeit ambient, seven minutes is just too long. This is true of ‘Transient Passage’. The song is also full of gritty guitar solos and glides – though one of which sounds a bit like a horse neighing.
‘Sepulchral Rites’ appears as bass-heavy as most of the album yet with distant but lightning-speed guitar lines. As the drum beat changes midway through, the second half of the song evolves more into a chugging and brutal piece of music.
Yet as ‘Churning Magm’a draws the album to an inevitable close, the suspense mounts with crescendoing drums and dimming guitar riffs. As the drop comes in, we are brutally attacked by white noise and the slow descent into the closing 30 seconds of quietness.
It’s not going to win any awards with us, yet for a death metal album from a band who’ve been on a three year hiatus, it sure is an admirable effort. If this is your cup of tea, it’s definitely worth a listen.
6/10
Reviewer: Lizzi Hart
