The German technical death metal band Obscura have finally returned with 'A Sonication', set to release via Nuclear Blast Records. With 22 years of experience under their belts, founding member Steffen Kummerer and his bandmates – Kevin Olasz (guitars), Robin Zielhorst (bass), and James Stewart (drums) – aim to push their sound further. While the album showcases impressive musicianship and ideas, it ultimately falls short of its full potential creatively.
From the outset, A Sonication attacks the listener with an onslaught of technical riffing, blast beats and Kummerer's guttural growls. Zielhorst's prominent and beautiful bass work is a consistent highlight, adding unique texture to the experience. Stewart's drumming is equally impressive, a whirlwind of precision and power creating a poignant relationship with the steady guitar work.
'Silver Linings' kicks things off with an energetic blast, showcasing the band's instrumental prowess, particularly the duelling guitar work and the powerful drumming. The most interesting components of this track is the panning of the tom rolls from the drums in the mix and the atmospheric acoustic guitar outro, hinting at a broader dynamic range.
'Evenfall' and 'In Solitude' continue the relentless assault, with the former introducing orchestral harmonies, and the latter featuring some cool echoed screams and a groovy bridge riff. 'The Prolonging' becomes a showcase for Stewart's drumming, with intricate cymbal work (particularly the use of the cymbal bell) and adds relentless rhythmic drive. However, Kummerer’s growls, while powerful, remain largely static and without much exploration.
The instrumental track 'Beyond The Seventh Sun' offers a welcome respite. Acoustic guitars and soaring riffs create a captivating soundscape, showcasing the band's compositional skills beyond sheer aggression. Zielhorst's bass shines here, taking centre stage with a beautiful solo. Ultimately, this track highlights the potential for more dynamic exploration within the ensemble, a potential that's only partially realized elsewhere on the album.
'Stardust' and 'The Sun Eater' present a mixed bag. While 'The Sun Eater' injects more aggression and dynamic vocals, creating a sense of urgency and featuring some impressive guitar squeals, 'Stardust' feels somewhat lacking, with a mix that buries the vocals and any sense of musical inertia. The latter track does offer a compelling outro with distorted guitars and a poignant melody but it's not enough to fully redeem the song. Comparatively, the mix on 'The Suneater' does make a more positive impression in terms of production compared to other tracks on the album.
The closing track, the titular 'A Sonication', is perhaps the most cohesive and well- structured on the album. The intro builds effectively, and the interplay between the instruments is tighter. The use of choir vocal backing adds an interesting layer, although the electronic voice effects in the bridge feel somewhat out of place. The song ends with a strong guitar solo and a fading outro, although a slightly different mix emphasizing the guitar would have made a more powerful closing statement.
Overall, 'A Sonication' is an album of impressive technicality and musicianship. Obscura’s instrumental prowess is undeniable, and Zielhorst's bass work is a standout along with Stewart’s powerful drumming. However, the album suffers from a lack of dynamic range and creative exploration, particularly in the vocals and guitar work. While there are moments of brilliance in this album, something feels like it's missing, and the production falls slightly short, stopping this otherwise excellent album reaching the highest echelons of brilliance.
'A Sonication' will be released on February 7th 2025 via Nuclear Blast Records.
Words: Katherine Russell
Photos: Obscura
Comments