Album
Type : Full Length
Date
Released : 11/11/2013
Label
: Candlelight Records
Obsideo, album
track listing:
1). Obsideo
2). Displaced
3). Aura Negative
4). Necro Morph
5). Laniatus
6). Distress
7). Soulrot
8). Saturation
9). Transition
10). Super Conscious
The
Band :
Mameli | Guitars, Vocals
Uterwijk | Guitars
Haley | Drums
Maier | Bass
Review :
Pestilences,
Dutch death metal legends, return once more.
This is their third album since reforming. Truthfully, I lost track of
the band after “Testimony Of the Ancients” twenty years ago- so I approach this
review with no knowledge of their interim work. I always thought of Pestilence
as towards the more technical end of the death metal spectrum; more Death than,
say, Cannibal Corpse. This release confirms to me that this is where the band
is still at. There are riffs exploding everywhere- jarring solos, impressive
production, blast beats, lots of cymbals etc.
The
title track sets the stall out- blast beats, twisting riffs and so on.
“Displaced” features some keyboard textures and excellent soloing over off
changes- you would not really mistake this for Florida death metal, or a
Scandinavian variant either. This is Euro- death, plain and not so simple.
Patrick Mameli has plainly still very much got it and offers up an astonishing
number of riffs and changes. “Aura Negative” will confirm your suspicions; the
album is not an easy listen. It is tech-y, even progressive in places, but it
is not long winded. The tracks are almost uniformly between three and four
minutes long. The fact that the record is as complex as it is speaks volumes
about Mameli and his cohorts' dedication to riffage and supplying a vibe
perhaps akin to “Human” by Death- economical but progressive in content.
“NecroMorph”
has some very unusual rhythms and changes- fast drums/slow riffs being a useful
trick. The solo is again superb and winds its way around two riffs and three
time changes. “Laniatus” marks the album's half way point and features some
truly chugging sections that will get your head nodding before a serpentine
feel takes over. “Distress” continues the mid paced feel and delivers some
truly crushing riffs (and even grooves!).
“Soulrot” blasts away effectively with crystal clear production and
slower sections. “Saturation” follows- again the track is consistent with the
album as a whole- unpredictable and concise. “Transition” offers discordant
riffs and weird time feel before adding keyboard textures and an impressive
solo section.
“Superconscious”
closes the album with a tour de force of blasts, grinding riffs and signature
changes throughout. Ultimately, the album is an abject lesson in how to do more
with more in less time- concise tracks abound with many, many riffs and it
makes for an entertaining and unpredictable listen. If you haven't checked out
Pestilence since they returned, you could start here.
Words by : Richard Maw
