Obeisance - "Unholy, Unwholesome & Evil"

(U.S.A., BlackSeed Productions, Black/Thrash Metal, 2006)

According to the biography that accompanies this promo, Obeisance have been in existence since 1993, though this is the first time I've heard their name mentioned. "Unholy, Unwholesome & Evil" has an enjoyably ugly sound to it, but I can understand why Obeisance had to release five demos before they were signed; they just aren't very good. Like most American bands, this have more of a feeling of raw Death/Grind (in particular I'm reminded of Purgatory's "Damage Done By Worms") than the Black/Thrash that the label describes. Sadly, Obeisance don't get anywhere near the levels of intensity displayed by countrymen Black Witchery or Morbosidad, and probably will be confined to the second division of the American Black Metal scene for the foreseeable future.

Obituary - "Darkest Day"

(U.S.A., Candlelight Records, Death Metal, 2009)

The Death Metal gods are fuckin' back in business with the long awaited "Darkest Day" released, as its predecessor, through Candlelight Records. Honestly I never expected such a jewel from Obituary, although band's past and the last album should be considered as a very solid base in the idea of doing a review for a new epic.
When I first heard about this material I thought that nothing can brings me the musically lines I was used with on "Slowly We Rot" or "The End Complete"! But never say never; and this is the prove that Obituary is back much stronger and powerful then ever. An album that speaks for itself and a band that will forever rest in my heart as one of the most important Death Metal combos ever, amongst Cannibal Corpse, Six Feet Under, Morbid Angel and many others!
Released a while ago "Darkest Day" is for sure one of the best materials ever recorded in the Death Metal scene, a skilled combination between band's old elements and the new ones; Obituary showing us that all this time spent behind the scene has nothing to do with their love for this extreme Metal music and it never stopped the creative process although it was inside their minds! The musical content present on "Darkest Day" combines extremely intelligent elements taken from "Slowly We Rot" and "Cause Of Death" and I'd say that this is the playing manner I was waiting from Obituary since is stunning return to form in 2007!
Very technical "Darkest Day" introduce a new guitar player, Ralph Santola, a former member of Xecutioner, Obituary's first name, which together with Trevor has done a very good job on this last material. The guitar lines are fuckin' awesome, bringing in front of us very interesting interludes and some slower moments in the old tradition of their "Slowly We Rot", I have to say it again!
I discovered something very unusual I'd say, a few Core Metal phases that improves at maximum the whole content imagined by this Floridian combo! Tardy brothers are as always on the highest step of the pyramid, both in a great form; but John still is the main attraction point of this gang. Sometimes aggressive the other times slow, combined with very skilled and technical moments "Darkest Day" impressed me from the very beginning and I really can't stop play it again and again! Although the whole content of this CD is about 40 minutes, we have here 11 songs, probably the best ever from band's highly acclaimed career! 11 hits that only Obituary knows how to do and a musical content that leave no space for some other comments!
The cover artwork is for sure one of the most expressive I've ever seen, and it fits perfectly with the whole content imagined by Obituary for this material! Some other words are useless if you don't get this awesome album as soon as possible, because this awesome combo is back only for you fans around the world! I hope that this combo will continue to play this way another 25 years from now on, because if you don't know next year some of its constituents will celebrate their 25th anniversary since they started to play together this kind of music.
Obituary, you rule!!! The end complete, trust me!!!

Obliteration - "Total Fucking Obliteration"

(Norway, Duplicated Records, Death Metal, 2005)

Founded 5 years ago at Kolbotn, home residence of well known bands such as Dark Throne, Beyond Dawn or Lamented Souls, Obliteration published its 7" EP through Duplicated Records from Norway. Although this CD contains only 4 songs, we can easily find some similarities between this combo and much known names such as Death, Cannibal Corpse or Morbid Angel. I for myself like very much this album, because here I found a very interesting Death Metal music. I must tell you that this Norwegians will going to blow up your brains with this unique combination between guitar solos à la Death, infernal drums à la Suffocation and a vocal score in the vein of old Cannibal Corpse, Chris Barnes era you know. Band guitar solos and breaks are extremely heavy, the many rhythm changes being one of the main attraction points of "Total Fucking Obliteration". Obliteration will surely succeed to impress you, because its technical skills and improvisations creates a very good album and every die-hard fan of this musical genre will going to like it much more than I do it now. Among other things I must emphasize band vocal score, an intelligent combination between a guttural score and a screaming voice frequently used by some Grindcore bands. The bass guitar player is the main connection element of Obliteration music, his rhythm changes and devastating breaks constituting, probably, the starting point of band compositional process; among the drum section, an extremely good one in Dave Culross way of playing. On the whole "Total Fucking Obliteration" proves to be an annihilating blast right in the face of every diluted trend band poisoning true Metal with polished sound and blend, melodic songs. We have here 4 songs full of smoking old school Death Metal, with a highly production. Don't miss it because you never expected such an interesting album recorded by a Norwegian combo.

Obscene Gesture - "Straight Outta The Gutter"

(U.S.A., Self released, Hardcore/Thrash, 2006)

The band Obscene Gesture comes from Los Angeles and is composed by members of once famous bands like Agent Steel, Body Count or Steel Prophet. Their first offering is "Straight Outta The Gutter", a 7 track demo MCD.
After an intro that I guess I've heard it elsewhere the mayhem begins! Mostly fast and short songs are to be found here in the best Hardcore/Thrash tradition of the late 80s, early 90s, Slayer comes to mind. "Don't Matter" and "What You Gonna Do" are ass kickers, short under 1 minute songs with damn fast rhythm. "Lovely" and "Fallen" or "Enough" I bet are hitting hard in the pit. Although short this is a must have release if you are into old "obscene" thrashing madness! I can not write more about this, you got to listen in order to enjoy. This is not pretentious it is just pure! Hell Yeah! This is the shit!

Obtest - "Auka Seniems Dievams"

(Lithuania, Ledo Takas, Pagan Metal, 2002)

Ten Heathen Pagan Metal songs from the hearts of the ancient warriors from Obtest are proposed here. The musical line is close to Black Metal but the difference is made by the vocals which are sung, not screamed. This is really catching that warrior atmosphere unlike other bands which try to do something in this manner but fail. Yon can hear some choir here and there...
The most interesting part here is the guitar playing, very raw. My favourite songs here are: "Iš Širdies" and "Priešą Parklupdyk", the last song being very extreme, almost Raw Black Metal. The cover artwork is also magnificent as for the lyrics they have chosen to play in their native language, so I can't tell you more about this matter. Another great release from Ledo Takas! I'm sure that this band can release even better albums in the future so check them out, they deserve your attention! Recommended for everyone who's into Pagan, Folk, War Metal!

Obtest – "Iš Kartos Į Kartą"

(Lithuania, Ledo Takas, Pagan Metal, 2006)

When I got a promo of this album from Ledo Takas, I've already known that it will be a high-quality product (I have this opinion in cause of previous label's releases) and such suspicion was justified. Obtest is the oldest Metal band in Lithuania who, probably, were pioneers of Pagan Metal within their land. "Iš Kartos Į Kartą" (From Generation To Generation) is their third opus, which was forged measured and with love. Lithuanians present a high piece of heathen material, filled with epic motives, which emphasizes immensely by hissing Lithuanian language (impressive!!!), which the vocalist does during the album. His voice is neither growling nor clean, it reminds me of a battle call and from the other hand, glorious manifestations of heathen warriors. And I just would like to say: "To the swords, brothers!!!" So, guitar themes varies from melodic touches up to the elementary or even simply moves, but as I mention above music made with knowledge and love. There are influences from Thrash to Power Metal touches, but the main predominance took the great heritage of ancient Lithuania and the resistance of her folk to German crusaders. Another plus is the absence of close similarities to another colleagues; it's mean than Obtest have own face amongst hundred heathen-like groups and projects. Such a quintessence of epic art will give a huge piece of pleasure. Just a good album which can be recommended to any medieval time lover.

October - "Carrion"

(U.K., Odium Records, Noise/Experimental, 2006)

I must confess, I never really understood this Noise thing. Call me old fashioned, but I prefer music to have a little more structure. October, therefore, are doomed from the start, and their horrendous paint-stripping racket is ferocious as it gets, but something that leaves me with something of a question mark over my head. Towards the end of this CD we have something that resembles normal music, but it's too little, too late. If you like very experimental sound pieces with a harsh sound, maybe October are worth checking out, but for others... Be warned.

Odium - "Solitude"

(U.K., Odium Records, Raw Black Metal, 2006)

Not to be confused with the million other bands taking this name from Poland, Norway and God knows where else, Odium have been around quite a while and it's been way too long since the last demo, the utterly dreadful "Hatred". I'd been lucky (?) enough to hear some rough works-in-progress for Odium's new material and I'll be honest with you: I was really looking forward to this.
Odium are one of the most foul, necro, depraved sounding bands of all time. They make "Transilvanian Hunger" sound like overproduced Prog-Rock. Many people will have uttered the words "This is the worst band I have heard in my life" after having an encounter with Odium's music. The only band that rival them for musical sickness and disease is the legendary Dawnfall, on "Dominance Of Darkness". Yes, this CD-R may be devoid of any technical ability, but it's power lies in its hypnotic simplicity. Think a very slow Von or the previously mentioned Dawnfall. It seems everything is intended to sound as horrible as possible, but somehow it all works. At least for me.
Certainly an acquired taste, but fans of necro filth will find plenty to enjoy in Odium's "music". Those who don't run screaming after the first note will love it.

Odium - "Death"

(U.K., Odium Records, Raw Black Metal, 2006)

This has been released at the same time as Odium's other demo "Solitude", but "Death" is the more recent of the two. As necro as ever, but this time with an even weirder, perverse atmosphere. I think sole Odium "musician" P. Knight has been listening to his Anubi LPs and taking notes on how to create such warped sounds, yet this is still well and truly Black Metal, Odium style.
This is probably the best Odium release so far. "Bloodshed At Hell's Fourth Gate" and "Of The Night" create some eerie atmospheres, whilst the album as a whole sounds utterly horrible and raw (with possibly the baddest drum sound in existence) like only Odium can. Buy it together with "Solitude" from the address below. You can also view a clip for the grim sounding "Windswept Wilderness"here.

Ohvrikivi - "Forgotten Screams"

(Estonia, Christcrusher Productions, Pagan Black Metal, 2006)

This is not a "new" release from Ohvrikivi, it is in fact their demo recorded in 2000, but never given an official release, as Must Missa became more active and sole O'kivi member Berg put the project on ice. In addition, two bonus tracks recorded in 2002 are featured on this cassette, these ones have been heard before on the "Estnische Kriegskameraden" compilation that came out on Beverina a while back.
If you bear in mind this is a home-made demo recorded six years ago, "Forgotten Screams" is very enjoyable. Those who own a copy of Must Missa's debut "Ma Ei Talu Valgust" will notice that a some of the riffs on here were also used on that album, so in effect what we have here is a kind of proto, work-in-progress Missa album. Really, those who don't own the Missa debut should buy or trade for that first, since it's very similar musically and has a more ear-friendly production quality, as opposed to the lo-fi buzz of "Forgotten Screams". Although "Realms Of Pleasure" and "Hirmuhigi" are great examples of how mid-paced Black Metal ought to sound, the energy, riffs and atmospherics of the songs shine through, despite being played through what sounds like a muddy pool of distortion.
The two bonus tracks have much better sound than the others, "Tuhast Tõus" is a little softer in style and more mid tempo, Nordic Black Metal similar to Burzum or Isengard. The last track "Kaaren" is a synth track to close off this MC.
This is a cult release for a discerning hardcore of Baltic Black Metal fans. If you take that in mind, this is great. People who aren't really familiar with this style should start elsewhere, but if you like the bands I mentioned above and fancy something a little bit out of the ordinary, you should check out Ohvrikivi..

Ol Sonuf - "Glass Idols"

(U.S.A., Self released, Melodic Death Metal, 2013)

Ol Sonuf is the one-man project of Washington DC-based guitarist Jason Aaron Wood and is his first full-length professional release under this name.
"Oh no", you cry, "Not a solo album by a shred guitarist! Where's my pillow and cup of cocoa?" But worry not. This isn't some instrumental snoozefest, this is intricate, epic, Melodic Death Metal at its best. The opening instrumental "Scrying" gives way to the 360-degree assault that is "Angel Of The Spheres" which sets the terms of engagement here – crushing riffs, cavernous production and intricately constructed songs referencing mythology and the Roman Empire.
Wood keeps the variety coming, with clean vocals on the excellent "The Will To Survive" contrasting with the brutally heavy "The Legacy Of Rome" and "Monoliths Of Wrath", and again with more laid-back doomy sounds on "Into Nod". Wood's production style clearly has an ear for the epic. He eschews the close, claustrophobic sound of the likes of Bloodbath, instead going for an reverb-soaked sound with plenty of symphonics and depth. The slight sacrifice of in-your-faceness in favour of scale and depth works well. Moments of this album are strongly reminiscent of Dimmu Borgir at their most bombastic, particularly the title track with its more Black Metal inspired vocals.
And Wood has the skill to match his ambition. Just because this isn't a shred album doesn't mean that there isn't plenty of shred here – there most certainly is, between out-and-out Malmsteen-esque blasts and intricate overlapping harmonisation and exotic scales, this is a true technical workout, but it's credit to Wood's ability as a songwriter that it fits in perfectly with the songs he has created.
Actually, the band that I could not get out of my head when listening to this, and I mean this as only the highest praise, is Dethklok. Like Brendon Small, Jason Wood has shown just how much noise and technicality one man can create, and on a fraction of Small's budget. Albums of the quality of "Glass Idols" show that one person with the right vision and application can compete at the highest level. They don't need mega budgets, they don't need session musicians, and they certainly don't need dinosaurs like Gene Simmons to tell them that rock is dead. It's only just getting fucking started.

O Quam Tristis - "Funerailes Des Petits Enfants"

(France, Palace Of Worms, Neo Gregorian/Ambient, 2000)

You cannot tell that this release is a bad one or the music is not a qualitative one but there is something that is missing here. The atmosphere! Thinking that this release deals with Gregorian texts and they want to say that this is Gregorian music ...it's a long way till they will reach that purpose. Here are lots of modern instruments. How can you make medieval music with the use of electronic instruments? They try, and even they have some effects that will remind you of that age but again very few. One track here is good enough to be called Gregorian music: "Beati Imaculati" which is saving this release, another (almost) good songs is "Gloria Patri".

O Quam Tristis - "Le Rituel Sacre"

(France, Palace of Worms, Neo Gregorian/Ambient, 2002)

A very, very good release is this CD "Le Rituel Sacre". In two years they have grown to a very good level of composition. This can be described as Neo Gregorian Ambient. Every track here is a small masterpiece. All the music develops in a very natural way from "Oferimus Tibi" till "Et Incarnatus Est" giving you the opportunity to travel in the dark ages. The vocals are of a very good quality, and more Gregorian than on the other CD. Also the atmosphere is great. This music cannot be described in words. Worthy to listen and to buy!!!

Ordog - "Two"

(Scotland, Aphelion, Progressive Black Metal, 2000)

This album from Ordog is a very unusual one, some songs are Black Metal, some not. The fifth one being a hell of a track, with its variation, and tempo changes and very original musical lines, the rest being some kind of progressive instrumental songs, like the second and the third one and atmospheric like the fourth are to be found here. On the sixth track you can hear a saxophone as a dominant instrument in a very dark atmosphere with nature sounds and a tribal drumming in the background. After a Noise interlude comes the right track, another Black Metal one but not written in the typical style, it has great progression and changes of rhythm and at the end of the song the vocals are becoming narrative and there is a story to be told, the music remaining the same brutal Black Metal, a very strange atmosphere is created. This demo ends with an instrumental song with raw distorted guitars and a very melancholic keyboard theme, a great ending song for a great demo! What shall I say more? Get this piece of music and listen to this promising band.

Outrage - "Switch Off The Pain"

(Austria, Self released, Death Metal, 2006)

This is the first sign of life from Outrage after a demo and a split album with Primal Dawn in 2001. I don't know these recordings but I suppose that they can't be the real thing when considering that the band was founded in winter 2000. I have no clue why it took five years to finish these five songs for this mini-album, but they kick ass!
It's nothing special, I've listened to this kind of Metal for more than ten years now and after I've heard about twenty bands it already seemed common and unspectacular to me, but you can't expect every band to reinvent the steel! ;)
Every song from this release could have been on the first two editions of the "Death... Is Just The Beginning" compilation. Bands like Benediction, Six Feet Under and Obituary are the heroes of Outrage and they also remind me a lot of Krabathor and other Morbid Records bands of this kind. It's traditional old school Death Metal, professionally produced and played with passion - and if you listen more carefully to the structures you may find some own inputs like unusual breaks and a few modern riffs, which could also come from Fear Factory... only the vocals could be better in my point of view. My favourite song is the title track, a mid tempo bastard with melancholic guitar leads!
The band is obviously a hobby, I don't think it's the next big thing around here but it's OK, they definitely have the right to exist though I'm asking myself how many bands of this kind will follow. Nevertheless I hope to hear the debut album soon - not in 10 years! ;)

Overgraven - "Promo 2005"

(Greece, Self released, Melodic Death Metal, 2005)

Overgarven formed in 2001 and take their name from the uniforms soldiers wear to protect themselves from chemical weapons. Well, Overgarven's music does not burn my skin and blind me in the same way a chemical attack would. In fact, this is standard melodic "Death" Metal with not much feeling and average playing skills. When the warbly female vocals of the second track start I really feel like reaching for the "off" button. It also made me realise this was just poor man's Heavy Metal that had nothing to do with Death Metal, it has neither the spirit nor the attitude, so why do the band insist on calling themselves such in the biography that accompanied this CD? Yeah, At The Gates were melodic, but they were also damn brutal. Overgarven are not, and are recommended only to those who listen to the kind of garbage that gets released on Nuclear Blast every other day.