Review of Obscura - "Akroasis"
- Feb 2, 2016
- 2 min read
NEW LINEUP? KEIN PROBLEM!
By: Geoff Teach
A few weeks ago, I overheard someone say something to the effect of, “No Grossmann, no Muezner, no Thesseling, no Obscura.” Well, I’m here to state for the record that whoever said that was wholly and unequivocally wrong. It’s been five long years since Munich, Germany’s prog-death superstars released Omnivium, and although founder Stephan Kummerer (guitars/vocals) is the only original member left on the upcoming Akroasis (Relapse Records, due out Friday, 2/5/16) (and although 2010’s Retribution, another sans Grossmann/Muezner/Thesseling album, was far and away the act’s most disappointing release), I can state with all confidence that Mr. Kummerer made us all wait so long for one damn fine reason: he was handpicking the finest talent he could find to replace the now permanently departed trio of Grossmann, Muezner, and Thesseling, and the end result is dazzling, devastating, and spectacular. Yes, ladies and germs, believe it – Obscura is back with a vengeance unmatched by any previous album, including Cosmogenesis (that’s right, I said it, and you can quote me).
Akroasis is everything that we’ve all come to love and admire about Obscura. Additionally, with the injection of fresh, unbridled talent in the form of Tom Geldschläger (studio guitars, live guitars to be handled by Rafael Trujillo), Linus Klausenitzer (bass), and Sebastian Lanser (drums), Obscura have not only regained their unmistakable sound, they have also become even greater composers than they’ve ever been. Obviously, Stephan Kummerer also spent a good portion of the last five years honing and reenergizing the sound of his brainchild, and the current lineup’s delivery of the new material is summarily exceptional.
Akroasis is nine tracks of rampant, prog-death impressiveness. Long tracks, shorter tracks, heavy tracks, reflective tracks, proggy math tracks, direct death tracks – by the gods, this album has it all. From the opener, “Sermon of the Seven Suns”, through fantastically swirling songs like “The Monist”, “Akroasis”, “Ten Sepiroth”, and “Ode to the Sun” (the last three mentioned all earning gold stars), then ending with stunners such as “Fractal Dimension”, “Perpetual Infinity”, and the fifteen-minute masterstroke, “Weltseele” (my hands-down favorite), Akroasis is already my frontrunner for 2016 Album of the Year. I can’t stop listening to this remarkable release. If you have not yet pre-ordered Obscrua’s latest, drop what you’re doing right now and get on that shit. Chop, chop!
Keep it Metal! \m/
To witness the monstrosity that is the title track, “Akroasis”, just press play below!
And to visit Obscura on the web, please click the following links:
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