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Album
Type : Full Length
Date
Released : 15/10/2013
Label : Unique
Leader Records
Called to Rise, album track listing :
1. Oblivion Part 1: The Chant of
Tyrants 01:40
2. Black Veils of Justice 03:11
3. Between Suns of Light 02:50
4. Binary Souls 03:24
5. Reclamation 04:11
6. Canon in E Minor 02:31
7. Annunaki 03:06
8. Reigns in Fire 04:59
9. Cancer of Wraiths 03:53
10. Multiverse 04:41
11. Oblivion Part 2: Infinite Descent 05:35
12. Black Veils of Justice (Instrumental Version) 03:11
13. Shred I: Multiverse (String Orchestra) 04:52
14. Shred II: Long Deaf Hate (String Orchestra) 03:54
15. Multiverse (String Orchestra) 04:48
2. Black Veils of Justice 03:11
3. Between Suns of Light 02:50
4. Binary Souls 03:24
5. Reclamation 04:11
6. Canon in E Minor 02:31
7. Annunaki 03:06
8. Reigns in Fire 04:59
9. Cancer of Wraiths 03:53
10. Multiverse 04:41
11. Oblivion Part 2: Infinite Descent 05:35
12. Black Veils of Justice (Instrumental Version) 03:11
13. Shred I: Multiverse (String Orchestra) 04:52
14. Shred II: Long Deaf Hate (String Orchestra) 03:54
15. Multiverse (String Orchestra) 04:48
Bio :
West
Coast extreme metal marauders OBLIVION are
pleased to officially unleash the audio punishment that is their Called to Rise full-length upon
the masses next month.
Focused
on crafting music to transcend time and genres, OBLIVIONfeatures a compelling cast of characters with All Shall
Perish founding bassist Ben Orum, vocalist Dr. Nick Vasallo, a professor of
music and internationally acclaimed modernist composer, guitarists Ted O’Neill
and Victor Dods who’s currently completing his PhD in mathematics, and drum
prodigy Luis Martinez, trained by renowned jazz funk musician Ndugu Chancler.
Initially
self-released early 2013 to the riotous endorsement of fans and critics alike, OBLIVION‘s Called to Rise was produced by Zack Ohren of Castle
Ultimate Studios (Suffocation, Immolation, Decrepit Birth, Deeds of Flesh) and
sold out in just a few weeks. Crowned “the must-own album of 2013,“ by Metal
Injection, “the finest debut ever written,“ by Metal Archives and a
“progressive metal masterpiece,” by Sputnik Music, who furthers, “the band’s
eleven song display of nothing more than pure aggression with more musical
depth than many bands can find in their entire discography,“ Called to Rise is among death
metal’s best kept secrets of the year.
Called to Rise was
rereleased via Unique Leader Records on October 15th with four bonus tracks.
For preorders, point your browser HERE.
Review :
I love me a band that’s all about stretching the boundaries of
music. Bay Area metal explorers Oblivion
have opened up dark new horizons with their debut release ‘Called to
Rise’. It’s 15 tracks of some of the
most extreme, most pioneering metal ever to grace the soundwaves and, here at
The Sludgelord, we’re very honoured to get to review some mighty stuff. Take a deep breath, and here we go.
The Oblivion guys have set out to create something with more scope than
a Tolkien odyssey, and more bite than napalm tequila shot. We’ve all heard the saying ‘leave no stone
unturned’ – well these guys leave no note unplucked in their pursuit of
creating the most epic melody. If you’re
a fan of technical, orchestral, grandiose death metal, then Oblivion are the
guys to swoon for. Feel free to check
out ‘Multiverse’ if you want the perfect example of ‘Called to Rise’s epic
sonic stature: starting with subtle guitar and piano harmony, it’s nearly a
minute of delightful bliss. Then the
shredder comes down on your face and turns it into so much grated human
cheese. Nick Vasallo’s vocals are the
catalyst to this sonic concoction, causing this melee of sound to reach frothingly
brutal heights.
What’s intriguing about ‘Called to Rise’ is the final set of songs. Dr. Vasallo’s classical connections have
obviously been at work here, I suspect, as we have three songs actually done by
a string orchestra. Whenever such occurrences
like this appear, to me, Apocalyptica spring instantly and happily to mind and these orchestral pieces are classical
mirrors of their heavier counterparts: retaining the shred and intensity, yet
adding an elegance and grace to the brutal proceedings. It’s a really clever method of showcasing how
versatile your music is: a Swiss Army Knife of riffs, if you will.
‘Binary Souls’ from this album is one that made my hair stand on end
with its electric riffery. At times
doomy, at others so technical it could build monuments of sound, ‘Binary Souls’
lifts itself above the norm by being insidious and intriguing, drawing you into
its dark realm with a circus master’s flair.
Up there with it as my picks from this crop of wild metal is ‘Cancer of
Wraiths’, an unrelenting tour de force of slamming technical death metal that
fairly rips your ears right off the sides of your head.
Oblivion is a band comprised of masters of the metal art: ‘Called to
Rise’ is an album, therefore, of sure-fire metal classics, crafted and honed to
surgical precision, guaranteed to ignite the flames of sonic passion inside you
with every listen. Close your eyes, put
your headphones on, and surrender to Oblivion.
Words by
: Chris Markwell
