Album length: 57:56
Production: V. Santura and Obscura
Release date: February, 2016
Label: Relapse Records
Rating: 10/10
German progressive death metallers Obscura have been through a lot of changes in the past four years. After the release of »Omnivium« (2011), the band got a new bassist, Linus Klausenitzer, while guitarist Christian Muenzner was diagnosed with a nerve condition in his left arm that made it hard to play regularly on tour. His condition slowly got worse, and in 2014 he and drummer Hannes Grossmann left the band over differing musical visions with founding member Steffen.
The two threw themselves into solo projects and each put out an album the same year, »Beyond the Wall of Sleep« and »The Radial Covenant«. The following year they joined forces and created the debut »The Malkuth Grimoire« with their new band Alkaloid, so instead of one, we now have two very high-quality progressive death metal bands.
Things didn’t calm down in Obscura, though. In the fall of 2014, auditions were held 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 only lasted for the writing and recording of the album, as they parted ways with him and replaced him with the current guitarist, Rafael Trujillo. Still, Fountainhead had a strong influence on Obscura’s new sound.
I’d like to point out that, despite all the lineup changes, there was never any of the internet drama we’ve gotten more and more used to lately. Now that I’ve explained the changes in the band’s lineup and their possible impact on the sound of the new release, let’s turn 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 a sci-fi form. The concept was born while writing the album »Cosmogenesis«, which is also the first of the four, and it deals with the origin of the universe and of life. The next album, »Omnivium«, presents general evolution and development and the transition from physical existence to the spiritual. »Akroasis« builds on that theme, while also hinting 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 so on.
The sound and production are without a doubt the best the band has had so far. Despite the lineup changes, everything still sounds incredibly like Obscura, so if I hadn’t followed all those changes, I’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 sonic picture is surprisingly clean for this genre. The vocals are raw and sit perfectly on the sonic backdrop, but what contributes most to the band’s sound is of course the seven-string fretless bass guitar, which Linus really masters. The biggest praise from me goes to drummer Sebastian, who dodges the biggest problem of modern death metal – oversaturation. The lines serve the music, and the dynamic compositions really work as a meaningful whole.
Akroasis kicks off with the hard-hitting »Sermon of the Seven Suns«, which from the very start reminds us of the strong influence of bands like Cynic, Atheist and Death on Obscura’s sound. You can also hear a step up in the rhythms and a dash of jazz-fusion elements. In terms of 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 a cosmic, all-powerful being in »The Monist«, which continues the album in the band’s classic style. The Monist is doomed to fail again and again, and it contemplates starting the cycle of life anew, but as something more perfect, less prone to decay, which it does in the next track – »Akroasis«, which is also the track I’d recommend to any newcomer to the genre. It’s a perfect union of technicality and melody, the song gets into your ear incredibly fast, but at the same time doesn’t sacrifice 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 newly born life, speaking of its perfection and harmony, and it fleetingly recalls the songs of Hannes Grossmann. »Perpetual Infinity« then underlines the fact that, regardless of morality or faith, all life, even the most perfect, is doomed to death.
And at the end comes a fifteen-minute-long beginning of the end, the 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 too will sooner or later come to an end. 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 only hope there’s no bad blood between Tom and Steffen and that the next album will go 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 we get while listening is that this track kicks off the destruction of the universe Obscura has built over the past eight years. The all-powerful creator, unable to reach its goal, is, despite its omnipotence, doomed to fall. The message the album leaves us with at the end is that, regardless of religion or scientific or philosophical leaning, we’re all doomed to die, which probably also serves as an intro to the next album.
Of course, everyone can interpret the lyrics and the concept their own way, but it’s a shame that most of the band’s fans overlook the lyrics because they focus solely on the music. The texts are really very complex, but still nicely crafted and well incorporated.
To sum it all up, Akroasis is a different album from the others, which, after all those lineup changes, of course makes sense. I wouldn’t rate it as better or worse, just as different. The band hasn’t pushed into some specific extreme of its sound, but has leveled up every aspect that makes it special.
Steffen Kummerer has proven that he’s the main driving force of 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 fanatics and more »mainstream« metalheads alike. The technicality and complexity are there, but not to the point of hurting the music.
Review by: David Bordon
Tracklist:
- Sermon of the Seven Suns
- The Monist
- Akróasis
- Ten Sepiroth
- Ode to the Sun
- Fractal Dimension
- Perpetual Infinity
- Weltseele
Lineup:
Steffen Kummerer – Vocals, guitar
Tom Geldschläger – Guitar
Linus Klausenitzer – Bass guitar
Sebastian Lanser – Drums
