Obscura - Retribution - guest review
Obscura - Retribution - guest review
Tracklist
01. Humankind02. Nothing
03. Unhinged
04. None Shall Be Spared
05. Alone
06. Hymn To A Nocturnal Visitor
07. Intoxicated
08. Exit Life
09. Sentiment
10. Sweet Silence
11. Lack Of Comprehension [Death cover]
12. Synthetically Revived [Suffocation cover] [2010 re-release bonus]
13. God Of Emptiness [Morbid Angel cover] [2010 re-release bonus]
Guest review by
Auntie Sahar January 16, 2012
For the most part, Retribution has a core death metal sound. The aggressive guitar riffing and blast beats of the drums are all there, and although then-guitarist Markus Lempsch certainly pales in comparison to the coming Christian Muenzner, he still manages to carve some interesting, though regrettably sometimes brief, leads alongside Steffen Kummerer (the ones in "Alone" are particularly nice). The tracks are a bit shorter in average length than Obscura's later work, some clocking in under 3 minutes ("Unhinged," "Intoxicated," "Hate Anthem"), which in a way might give one the impression that on this album, the band was more concerned with some straight up ball-crushing death metal than with the intricate composition that was to come. In that regard, what also comes as a bit of a disappointment is the inaudibility of the bass, the jazzy, progressive playing style of later albums not really being there at all.
Having said that, however, Retribution does drop a few notable hints at the band Obscura was to become. There are the clean vocals on "Nothing," similar to those in the band's later material, as well as the little melodic break towards the end of "None Shall Be Spared." Also, there's the truly interesting cello work in the middle of "Hymn To A Nocturnal Visitor" (possibly the strongest track on the album), which upon a first listen really raised my eyebrows, because let's not kid ourselves: there aren't many death metal bands that can pull something like that and still be taken seriously.
This album might get a lot of shit for what it isn't, but I think it should rather be taken for what it is. Some moments of experimentation rear their heads amongst its primarily uncompromising brutish sound, and that's what should be taken into consideration. If Omnivium was Charizard, and Cosmogenesis was Charmeleon, then Retribution was Charmander. But hey, all evolution has to start somewhere, and for a debut album, this guy, all around, really isn't that disappointing.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 8 |
| Songwriting: | 8 |
| Originality: | 7 |
| Production: | 7 |
Written by Auntie Sahar | January 16, 2012
Guest review disclaimer:
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
Comments
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I agree with this review. And you have gained infinite respect for referring to Pokémon, while talking about Obscura.
---- I hate bonus tracks
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Posts: 5989 Written by Zap on 03.03.2012 at 16:50 Glad you liked the reference man 
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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Posts: 3645 Written by Auntie Sahar on 03.03.2012 at 17:00 I just hope their next album isn't Squirtle and goes straight to Blastoise.
---- I hate bonus tracks
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Posts: 1689
A Pokémon reference on MetalStorm? Officially, this is the best review, ever!
---- "Les vers savent qu'ils n'ont pas d'ailes, c'est pour cela qu'ils se cachent sous terre"
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Posts: 5989 Written by Daggon on 07.10.2016 at 04:45 Haha, your commenting on this brings back memories man! Glad you think so 
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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Posts: 3645
Too bad their newest album was more of a Mega Charizard. Meaning it's stronger (or whatever) but it lost all its charm.
---- I hate bonus tracks
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Posts: 5989 Written by Zap on 07.10.2016 at 13:23 That's really like the perfect analogy 
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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Posts: 349  |
Posts: 349
Seriously best review ever still a huge Pokemon fan! Haha and you make me want to check this out I have all their other albums 
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