Obliteration - Black Death Horizon - review
Obliteration - Black Death Horizon - review
Tracklist
01. The Distant Sun (They Are The Key)02. Goat Skull Crown
03. Transient Passage
04. Ascendance
05. Sepulchral Rites
06. Black Death Horizon
07. Churning Magma
A review by
Auntie Sahar January 21, 2014
A four piece hailing from none other than Kolbotn, Norway (the home town of Darkthrone), the unquestionable charm of Obliteration, especially on this latest release, has to lie in their sophisticated manipulation of mood and tempo. Opener "The Distant Sun (They Are The Key)" kicks off with a slow, doom-like pacing, creating an atmosphere of gradually being dragged into a vile, decaying tomb. Much like Obituary with Cause Of Death, a good chunk of Black Death Horizon dwells in this delivery of thick, heavily pulsating riffs that could easily knock you over a wall. The technique helps to create an excellent vibe of variation, and builds anticipation for Obliteration to up the ante and deliver the goods.
And deliver they do, for as could be expected, Black Death Horizon also grounds itself firmly in aggressive, take-no-prisoners death metal territory, which both pays tribute to many of extreme metal's forefathers while not sounding too much like them either. Whether it's a head nod to Kreator ("Goat Skull Crown"), some Mayhem-esque drumming ("Sepulchral Rites"), or the sinister vocals of Sindre Solem that tap back into the glory days of Venom and Celtic Frost, it all comes together to form one frightening hell ride through a massive burial mound.
Despite these similarities, Black Death Horizon is by no means just another cookie cutter death metal release. Obliteration don't really imitate the bands of yesterday as much as they specifically pick which ingredients they like from certain ones, carefully cannibalizing them and spitting them out in the form of one cleverly cohesive whole. The diversity of speed, combined with a delightfully evil atmosphere of haunting nights and rotten corpses (see instrumental "Churning Magma," especially) help to make Obliteration's third full length one of the most pleasantly surprising death metal albums of 2013. If you've been looking for an album that combines a great old-school sound with a crisp, modern update, look no further, because this is it.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 9 |
| Songwriting: | 9 |
| Originality: | 8 |
| Production: | 9 |
Written by Auntie Sahar | January 21, 2014
Comments
Comments:
17
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 Posts: 40071 |
Posts: 40071
One of this year's very finest.
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996 
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Posts: 5989 Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 21.01.2014 at 17:52 And definitely one of my most-anticipated sets for Roadburn 
---- 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: 40071 |
Posts: 40071 Written by Auntie Sahar on 21.01.2014 at 17:54 Let me guarantee you that they're better live than on album
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
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Posts: 5989 Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 21.01.2014 at 17:56 Excellent, and we get Bolzer and Tribulation too... not many extreme bands on the lineup this year, but the ones that are I think will all be pretty superb.
---- 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: 213  |
Posts: 213
Finally, some death metal album that really caught me, doesn't happen with new stuff anymore. Mot bands just copy their old albums, making each new more and more forgettable. That's not the case of Obliteration - these tracks clung to my brain and just didn't let go.
---- World won't end today - it's already tomorrow in Australia.
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Posts: 3645
I wouldn't give it an 8 for originality, but that's just a number anyways. Your review really says it all.
---- I hate bonus tracks
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Posts: 5989 Written by Zap on 21.01.2014 at 19:28 I was considering giving it a 7 for a second, but settled on the 8 because I think there's a bit of originality in how Obliteration apply their variety of influences. Like I kinda hinted at, it's one thing to be an exact imitator, it's another to form your own puzzle from pieces of bands that've inspired you.
---- 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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| mz
Account deleted |
mz
Account deleted
Haha you keep surprising me  I personally would rate it a little lower, but the review is well written, as always
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Posts: 1571
Sounds like something old and forgotten from the 90's. Amazing!
---- 
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 Posts: 2574 |
Posts: 2574
Thanks for the review. Got me interested.
---- Savor what you feel and what you see Things that may not seem important now But may be tomorrow R.I.P. Chuck Schuldiner Satan was a Backstreet Boy
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Posts: 212  |
Posts: 212
Was already excited for this album to come out, but this review just made me want the damned thing even more!
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Posts: 3645 Written by Auntie Sahar on 21.01.2014 at 19:42 Upon re-listening I have to say: 1) you have a point, but I still wouldn't give it more than a 7 for originality, though that doesn't mean I don't think it sounds very fresh. 2) HOLY FUCK THIS THING IS AWESOME!
---- I hate bonus tracks
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Posts: 6
After reading the review I can't wait to get this one! Specially since I'm in the mood for some serious fucking death metal 
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Posts: 3471
So, do the vocals sound like Tom Warrior? I don't listen to much death metal, but the vocal bit made me interested.
---- "I'm here to nunchuck and not wear helmets. And I'm all out of helmets." "I'll fight you on one condition. That you lower your nipples." " 'Tis a lie! Thy backside is whole and ungobbled, thou ungrateful whelp!"
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Posts: 5989 Written by M C Vice on 23.01.2014 at 08:29 A little bit, at least to my ears they have a very First Wave Black Metal-inspired tinge to them. Check out "Transient Passage" and "Sepulchral Rites" especially
---- 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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