ALBUM REVIEW: Desolate – Ophidian I
Lengthy introductions have never felt more redundant. All you need to know is that Desolate is a colossal achievement in tech-death wizardry and OPHIDIAN I, its Icelandic architects, will demand your undivided attention. These lesser-known titans have laid dormant since 2012’s Solvet Saeclum and have only reared their heads from slumber to unleash one of this year’s most challenging and inhumanly proficient records; whether or not tech-death is your thing, the only instinctive reaction to Desolate is awe.
In keeping with Eliran Kantor’s astral cover art, Desolate is the feeling of being engulfed by a cosmic maelstrom; being violently flung in every direction as the universe collapses around you. Each of the ten tracks run a similar gamut with riffs flying a mile a minute and clockwork percussion pulling U-turns at every corner; and OPHIDIAN I does it all on a single breath. It’s not an approach to take kindly to genre newcomers but when your mission statement is “reaching the apex of technical metal in terms of proficiency, arrangements and sound”, then mass appeal is hardly a concern.
Refusing to pull their punches has worked strongly in the band’s favour. Desolate rarely cheats on its strict diet of brutality and creativity, with Captive Infinity’s acoustic intro being a precious chance to exhale, and little doubt is left that OPHIDIAN I worked their hands bloody for this 40-minutes of meticulous mayhem. This propensity for technicality, and certainly their endurance, is fulfilled with airlock tight performances. Considering the quintet as individuals would be to see the band’s work from the wrong angle – OPHIDIAN I is a well-oiled collective where every riff, chop or growl emboldens one another to push harder and faster, all without missing a beat. It’s a feat of dexterity and stamina that, regardless of your take on the music itself, will leave jaws agape.
Within such a stratospheric soundscape, these rising tech-death heroes have a lot to offer, and myriads more upon fine comb inspection. In support of the expected barrage of heavy fire blast beats and ‘in dire need of a strepsil’ vocals, the quintet conjures superb melodies through goosebump-raising harmonies and exquisite solo-noodling that keeps this careering vessel in sky-high orbit. Plus, despite most riffs coming and going without so much as goodbye, the ten tracks do produce their highlights. Take the climactic solo of Unfurling The Crescent Moon, the chug-laden breakdown in Dominion Eyes or the neck-breaking intro of Enslaved In A Desolate Swarm; all moments that prevent Desolate from being a forgettable, albeit well-constructed, battering.
Despite the band’s strong ear for complex arrangements and grand compositions, the feeling of being lost can creep in on early listens – as the track-list quickly slips away as you attempt to make sense of the chaos. It’s the record’s only flaw and is, perhaps, only reflective of its unsuitability to those unfamiliar with tech-death’s demanding nature. Seeing Desolate solely as the sum of its parts, however, does help this sprawling cosmic odyssey become an easier pill to swallow; just always keep a neck brace handy to avoid long-term injury.
OPHIDIAN I set out with a clear goal, to hurdle the limits of technical precision whilst delivering a record still chocked full of compositional glory; they have delivered. Whilst not a project for the faint-hearted, Desolate is a grand statement of presence for the emerging quintet and a masterclass of throat-ripping intensity with the sophistication necessary to blow minds as well as rock them.
Rating: 8/10
Desolate is set for release on July 16th via Season of Mist.
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