Band:	Enthral
Album:	Obtenebrate
Style:	Melodic black metal
Release date:	March 2012

01. Obtenebrate
02. The Gospel Of Woe
03. Lay Waste The Crops
04. Pallbearer
05. Sepulchre
06. On To The Never
07. The 7th Wave
08. Within The Tomb
09. Fields Of Death
10. Deaths Drum

After the release of a seemingly neglected EP and a re-release of a cult classic from the '90s two years ago, Enthral have finally come around to releasing a new full-length album by way of Obtenebrate. Beginning with the end of the story, fans won't be disappointed.

What these guys have been praised for in the past is what they'll likely receive praise for from those who've followed the band's career over the course of the last 10 years: melody. Or not. This time around you get the added bonus of groove. And that will probably grab more ears than some well-executed melodies.

Groove. In a melodic black metal release. Who knew?

Enthral still retain that sense of evil synonymous with occult black metal outfits, not to mention virtually any black metal band from Norway. The music has a genuinely eerie vibe to it, more or less similar to Slayer's Reign in Blood. You can almost feel the sardonic wrath behind each song, as if being dragged into the fiery pits of hell by Kjetil himself. While it does seem to borrow heavily from the Sodoms and Slayers of yore, this is still primarily a black metal release. It just happens to have a slightly thrashy edge more noticeable in certain songs (such as "Lay Waste the Crops"). Because being too melodic is for pussies. Yeah.

Another thing to make note of is the track lengths. With the exception of the intro, the majority of the songs run upwards of six minutes. "The Gospel of Woe" jumps out at 12 minutes, and Enthral prove they have the writing talents to make such lengthy songs work in their favor. Not only do these marathon-esque compositions lay the foundation for an atmosphere that screams repugnance, but your ears get to feast on some excellent riffs and chaotic drum work. Be prepared for a bit of a journey, however, as this album surpasses the 60-minute mark.

All in all Obtenebrate is a satisfying release that should garner a bit more attention than an EP or re-release, yet it lacks any sort of "wow" factor. It will definitely get by on its cult vibe and vile atmosphere, but unfortunately this just doesn't live up to the same quality as Prophecies of the Dying. The infusion of some groove elements and lengthy songs are both nice touches, but their fingerprints fade with the passing of time.