Artist: Obscura
Label: Relapse Records
Release: year_month
Length: 57:56
Rating: 5/5
German progressive death metallers Obscura have been through a lot of changes in the past four years. After the release of »Omnivium« (2011), a new bassist, Linus Klausenitzer, joined the band, while guitarist Christian Muenzner was diagnosed with a nerve disorder in his left arm that made it hard for him to play regularly on tour. His condition gradually got worse, and in 2014 he and drummer Hannes Grossmann left the band over differing musical visions with founding member Steffen.
The two of them turned to solo projects and each put out an album that same year, »Beyond the Wall of Sleep« and »The Radial Covenant«. The following year they joined forces again and, with their new band Alkaloid, created the debut »The Malkuth Grimoire«, so now instead of one very good progressive death metal band, we’ve got two.
Things didn’t calm down in Obscura, either. In the fall of 2014 they held auditions for new members. Sebastian Lanser, from the German jazz-metal band Panzerballet, joined on drums, and Tom »Fountainhead« Geldschläger on guitar. The collaboration with the latter lasted only for the writing and recording of the album, as they parted ways with him and replaced him with the current guitarist, Rafael Trujillo. Even so, Fountainhead left a strong mark on Obscura’s new sound.
I’d like to point out that, despite all the lineup changes, there were never any of those internet meltdowns we’ve gotten so used to lately. Now that I’ve covered the lineup changes and their possible influence on the sound of the new record, let’s get to the album itself.
Akroasis is the third part of a cycle of four concept albums heavily influenced by German philosophy, which the only remaining founding member, frontman Steffen Kummerer, interprets in his own way and presents in sci-fi form. The concept was born while writing »Cosmogenesis«, the first of the four, which deals with the origin of the universe and life. The next album, »Omnivium«, covers general evolution and development and the transition from physical existence to the spiritual. »Akroasis« builds on that theme, but also hints at the beginning of the end. More on that shortly.
All three albums were produced by V. Santura (guitarist of Dark Fortress, Triptykon and Noneuclid), and the artwork was done by Orion Landau, who has already worked with bands like Dying Fetus, Nile, Origin, Necrophagist and more.
The sound and production are without a doubt the best the band has had so far. Despite the lineup changes, everything sounds incredibly like Obscura, so if you hadn’t been following all those changes, you’d be convinced the lineup was the same as on the previous album. The drums and bass are recorded brilliantly, so the guitars sound really full, nothing gets »lost« in the mix, and the overall sound is surprisingly clean for this genre. The vocals are raw and sit perfectly on the soundscape, but what contributes most to the band’s sound is, of course, the seven-string fretless bass, which Linus absolutely masters. The biggest props from me go to drummer Sebastian, who avoids the biggest problem of modern death metal – overload. The lines serve the music, and the dynamic compositions really work as a coherent whole.
Akroasis kicks off with the punchy »Sermon of the Seven Suns«, which right from the start reminds us of the strong influence of bands like Cynic, Atheist and Death on Obscura’s sound. You can also hear an upgraded rhythmic approach and a dash of jazz-fusion elements. From the standpoint of the concept, it’s clear the album is heading in a new direction, as the lyrics deal with life’s self-destruction, as opposed to evolution. This destructive force is presented as an all-powerful cosmic being in »The Monist«, which carries the album on in the band’s classic style. The Monist is doomed to fail again and again, and he contemplates starting the cycle of life anew, but as something more perfect, less prone to decay, which he does in the next track – »Akroasis«, which is also the song I’d recommend to any new listener of the genre. It’s a perfect union of technicality and melody; the tune gets into your ear incredibly fast, yet doesn’t sacrifice any of its complexity. »Ten Sepiroth« continues the theme of creating a higher living being. »Ode to the Sun« is exactly what the title says, and thematically and musically it reminds me at times of a more technical Gojira. »Fractal Dimension« is the peak of the newly born life, speaking of its perfection and harmony, and it fleetingly recalls Hannes Grossmann’s tracks. »Perpetual Infinity« then drives home the fact that, regardless of morality or faith, all life, even the most perfect, is doomed to die.
And finally comes the fifteen-minute-long beginning of the end, a track titled »Weltseele«. The Monist’s creation of life turns out to be a kind of vicious circle and gives us the feeling that this one, too, will come to an end sooner or later. It was written by Linus and Tom, who probably had the final say, since it’s the most »different« track on the album, and I just hope there’s no bad blood between Tom and Steffen and that the next album goes exactly in this direction. Steffen said in an interview that the next album will be a requiem and that he’d like to make it with an orchestra, which just happens to be present on this track. The overall feeling you get while listening is that this track kicks off the destruction of the universe Obscura has built over the past eight years. The almighty creator, unable to reach his goal, is doomed to fall despite his omnipotence. The message the album leaves us with at the end is that, regardless of religion or scientific or philosophical leanings, we’re all doomed to die, which probably also serves as the intro to the next album.
Of course, everyone can interpret the lyrics and the concept their own way, and it’s a shame that most fans of the band overlook the lyrics because they focus only on the music. The texts are really complex, yet nicely crafted and well incorporated.
To sum it all up, Akroasis is a different album from the rest, which, after all the lineup changes, makes sense. I wouldn’t rate it as better or worse, just as different. The band didn’t push any one specific extreme of its sound, but upgraded all the aspects that make it special.
Steffen Kummerer has proven he’s the driving force behind Obscura, and Akroasis is proof that he knows exactly what he’s doing. He’s made an album with the potential to appeal to technical death metal fans and more »general« metalheads alike. The technicality and complexity are there, but not to the point of hurting the music.
Personally, I can’t wait to see them live, and I’m really eager to find out what they’ll deliver on the final album of the cycle, but that means waiting another year or so.
You can catch Obscura at this year’s Metaldays festival, headlining the small stage on Thursday, July 28, 2016.
Lineup
Steffen Kummerer – Vocals, guitar
Tom Geldschläger – Guitar
Linus Klausenitzer – Bass guitar
Sebastian Lanser – Drums
Production
V. Santura and Obscura
Tracklist
1. Sermon of the Seven Suns
2. The Monist
3. Akróasis
4. Ten Sepiroth
5. Ode to the Sun
6. Fractal Dimension
7. Perpetual Infinity
8. Weltseele
