ALBUM REVIEW: Into The Vortex Of Obscurity – Obscure Infinity

One of the many, many death metal bands that sprung up in Germany in the early-mid 2000s, OBSCURE INFINITY are steadfast members of the rejuvenation of old-school death metal in the German scene. Alongside the likes of DESERTED FEAR, REVEL IN FLESH and SULPHUR AEON, the outfit have been delivering some of the underground’s strongest death metal for over a decade now. In 2015, the band released arguably their strongest album to date, Perpetual Descending Into Nothingness, following it up with a barrage of split releases until 2017. Four years on from the release of their seminal third offering, OBSCURE INFINITY have returned with not one, but two releases – the first, Evocation Of Chaos, was a compilation of rarities and B-sides that dropped on February 15th, while new LP Into The Vortex Of Obscurity sees the band deliver the next chapter in their crushing discography.

OBSCURE INFINITY waste little time in getting the brutality started with opening gambit Embrace Obscurity, which sees the band delve into crushing, OBITUARY-esque grooves and classic Swedish ferocity in equal measure. Though Embrace Obscurity is one of Into The Vortex Of Obscurity‘s weakest moments, relatively speaking, it deliveries heaviness in spades and introduces the listener to the blistering lead work that becomes an ever-present feature across the record. Album singles Cosmic Disgrace and Grotesque Face continue in much the same vein, delivering a brand of death metal that, while not terribly unique, benefits from well-above-average execution.

Though Side A of Into The Vortex Of Obscurity was a strong opening, it is with the second half of the record OBSCURE INFINITY truly shine. Lightning Spear (A Forlorn Wanderer Part II) is a strong successor to A Forlorn Wanderer, found on Perpetual Descending Into Nothingness, feeling a true sequel with the cleanly sung passages, bursts of bluesy solo-work and thematically similar aggression and brutality. Though OBSCURE INFINITY tend to have their stronger moments in their longer tracks, Void Of The Soul is a crushing slab of brilliantly executed ferocity, with the blackened undertones of the band’s sound stronger than ever here.

Into The Vortex Of Obscurity closes with the calm, Latin-sounding interlude of Withering Starseed Under The Cosmic Vault leading into album highlight, the nine-minute epic Swallowed By Time And Darkness. Throughout Swallowed By Time And Darkness, OBSCURE INFINITY display some leaning towards the progressive side of death metal, transitioning from riff to riff seamlessly, incorporating copious amounts of melody while balancing the brutality perfectly. Cleaner passages make another appearance, while blues-tinged lead-work delivers a slab of emotion to the death metal opus. Alongside Lightning Spear, Swallowed By Time And Darkness is a stand out moment from the record, and further proves that OBSCURE INFINITY are at their best when pushing the run-time closer to the ten minute mark rather than a radio-friendly three-to-four minutes.

For much of their career, OBSCURE INFINITY have worn their primary influences on their sleeve – astute listeners coming across the band for the first time may notice they have taken their name from GRAVE‘s legendary debut, Into The Grave, and that Swedish death metal influence permeates throughout their discography. Throw in a touch of blackened guitar work and the brutality of the Florida death metal scene, and OBSCURE INFINITY have a not-entirely-unique, but incredibly well executed style. Though Into The Vortex Of Obscurity is not a total departure from this, the band do engage in some more mature song-writing, incorporating big, ear-worm hooks, stunning NWOBHM influenced leads, and a more adventurous progression. Everything comes together wonderfully, culminating in arguably the best material the band have ever put to tape. With Into The Vortex Of Obscurity, OBSCURE INFINITY have solidified their place among death metal’s strongest competitors.

Rating: 9/10

Into The Vortex Of Obscurity is out now via FDA Records. 

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