ALBUM REVIEW: Chemical Well – Obeyer

Having previously formed under the name of LAY SIEGE back in 2010, OBEYER are no strangers to the circuit. Whilst their lives may have changed significantly with the additions of jobs, families and other such adult responsibilities the UK quartet have always been committed to their craft. During the pandemic however, they experienced a shift in their evolution, thus deciding a new moniker would be most appropriate to represent this change. Their full-length debut Chemical Well is due for release on November 15th via the prestigious 3Dot Recordings, will this freshly opened chapter lift them to new and exciting heights?

Witness welcomes you with hefty riff work, abrasive vocal blasts and swarming atmospherics. Emotive piano keys break through the wall of crushing heaviness. A Momentary Death continues to attack with skin-searing intensity. Bludgeoning, down-tuned carnage is the special of the day, providing little respite bar a brief selection of synths. Second Sun chips away at your skull with hammering drum beats as ferocious vocal work leaves you trembling in terror.

Radiant allows for some semblance of light to sneak through the looming cloud of darkness. Whilst still predominantly situated in the heavy realms the clean vocals and alluring melodies show another side to OBEYER which make surface in future material. With Nothing injects a groove-induced tempo that transitions between enticing snappiness and jabbing aggression. All Sullen possesses an ominous, gloomy tone that plays hand in hand with the unrelenting brutality instilled thus far. Particularly when added to a round of vicious blast beats.

Immaculate sustains the chaos, battering you from every angle with an instrumental assault. Dripfed has no intention of taking the foot off the pedal, opting for some slick riff sequences amongst the harsh, blackened soundscape. Brand New Damage lures you into a false sense of security by issuing a rather gentle introductory piece before once again greeting you with a baseball bat to the teeth. A brief reprisal of melody is a welcome reprieve. A Slow Shift to a Cold Shiver comes equipped with a rather haunting, menacing quality, ebbing, flowing, and leaving you with a sense of unease as it progresses. A fitting final statement from an impressive outing.

When a band as prestigious as PERIPHERY sees something special in you and enlists you on their label, you know you’re onto something. Chemical Well is an emphatic initiation and will certainly be turning a few heads. It can be difficult for a band not to sound heavy just for the sheer sake of it but OBEYER have cleverly evaded any potential pitfalls by presenting an impressive level of balance which keeps you locked in and intrigued to see what lies around the corner. An exciting path lies ahead and this promising quartet are just getting warmed up.

Rating: 8/10

Chemical Well is set for release on November 15th via 3DOT Recordings.

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