ALBUM REVIEW: Iconic – Obsidious
Progressive-death metallers OBSIDIOUS may be relative newcomers to the world of tech-death, but they’ve got some serious pedigree. Comprising three ex-members of OBSCURA, they deal in a highly elaborate style of song-writing that isn’t far removed from their previous band. Iconic is a confident, well-crafted debut and it’s packed full of dense, multi-layered songs that take multiple listens to truly appreciate.
The comparisons to OBSCURA are inevitable, but the most notable difference is in the vocals. Singer Javi Perera is an incredible find, and arguably the strongest weapon in their arsenal. He’s got an impressive range and can switch between harsh and clean vocals in an instant. It’s going to raise the eyebrows of OBSCURA fans when they hear the first melodic chorus, but it sets them apart from their former act. OBSIDIOUS aren’t a carbon copy, they’re doing things (slightly) differently.
Iconic starts strongly with Under Black Eyes, a track that does a grand job in laying out exactly what these guys are about. It’s a fast and intense neck workout, with precision-crafted guitar riffs and an orchestral backdrop that nicely compliments the atmosphere. From there, it sprints into Sense Of Lust and the title track, two songs that seem to have been created specifically to annoy anyone that writes guitar tablature for a living. The musicianship is on point and every instrument sounds like it’s being played by people with extra limbs.
Later, I Am makes an engaging mid-record highlight that showcases Perera’s voice beautifully. Delusion is a spiralling five minutes of odd time signatures and abrupt tempo changes, while Lake Of Afterlife comes across like metalcore with a PHD. Credit to the production team too; Iconic was recorded in multiple locations but sounds incredible.
If Iconic has one stumbling block though, it’s that it takes a lot of effort to get into. This is no sugar rush, and it requires all your concentration throughout multiple listens to really appreciate. It’s full of subtleties, but they’re easy to miss and the whole thing can be overwhelming. This was written with a very specific genre in mind and if you’re not already onboard the tech-death train, Iconic is likely to be impenetrable.
Providing you give it the time of day though, Iconic is a rewarding listen. It’s not perfect and it can drag, but it’s also less robotic than their former act. OBSCURA are a great band but we’re not entirely convinced they aren’t machines wearing synthetic skin. OBSIDIOUS however, are recognisably human and if you think you saw their eyes glowing red, no you didn’t. This won’t change the world, but it’s likely to make some big ripples in the niche of their chosen genre. Calling their first album Iconic is a ballsy move and while it doesn’t measure up to its own title, this is a decent starting point.
Rating: 7/10
Iconic is set for release on October 28th via Season Of Mist.
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