Album Review: Obscura – A Valediction
Reviewed by Paul Hutchings
Technical death metal can blow hot or cold. Sometimes the overriding factor appears to be extreme technical prowess at the expense of actual song structures, leaving the listener somewhat bemused by the sheer number of notes that explode in their face. German outfit Obscura fit neatly into the technical DM category, but with their latest album, their first for new label Nuclear Blast, they continue to demonstrate why they lead the field. ‘A Valediction’ is an album that may well cross the divide, blending the necessary technical savagery with melodic hooks, memorable passages as well as insane amounts of shredding and high tempo playing.
Obscura are heading into their 20th year in 2022, and with six albums under their belt are now veterans of the scene. 2018’s ‘Diluvium’ was a masterful release, and the subsequent live shows were impressive. ‘A Valediction’ continues the same path that the previous albums followed, with the album a conclusion of a four-part album series. The album beings with the explosive ‘Forsaken’, which misleads with a gentle acoustic introduction which quickly caves into an all-out face melting, with Stefan Kummerer’s gruff vocals raging over the dual guitars and the phenomenal rhythm section.
Over the next 50 minutes Obscura bring plenty of dynamic flair to the table. Apart from Forsaken, they keep the tracks short, opting for short, intense blasts over lengthy musical exploration. The musicianship that is on display is incredible. The guitar work is intricate, twisting and turning every which way, whilst Jeron Paul Thesseling’s bass lines run rampant, in a freestyle format that adds greatly. Underpinning these blistering pieces, drummer David Diepold brings a masterclass in ferocity with precision engineering.
What allows Obscura to stand apart from the crowd is the underlying melody that surges through their songs. The title track has a punishing tempo, and you find yourself humming the track ages after the album has finished. It is of course high speed from start to finish, with only the occasional pause for breath. ‘When Stars Collide’ with it’s pacy picking and incredible blast beats segues into almost jazz-fused breakdowns, whilst the gravel throated roar echoes above the cacophony that rages. And then we hit some clean harmonies in the vocals, which throw another curved ball into the mix.
Stripping the band’s sound down to basics reveals a heavy metal band who have added complexity, intricacy, and speed to their sound. This combination makes their work here more accessible to those who may dismiss the band as over-indulgent. ‘In Unity’ switches between raw death metal and melodeth styles, ‘The Beyond’ transports the listener far away and then to close, we experience ‘Heritage’, complete with acoustic work that compliments the band’s continued aggressive sound.
‘A Valediction’ isn’t going to suit every metal fan. This is intense music played by those whose skillset is off the chart. Even if you aren’t a fan, this is an opportunity to marvel at the fluid styles of some of metal’s most impressive musicians. ‘A Valediction’ sees Obscura
march towards that 20-year milestone in good health and with a 2022 tour to come, the world seems bright again, even if it only for a short time.
