ALBUM REVIEW: Obscura – Eradikator

Deep underground the blackened skyline of Birmingham, England a four-piece loyal to the roots of heavy metal create a clash of old and new with their newest album Obscura. Having already ruptured the UK underground with regular servings of fury fuelled shows and two explosive albums; ERADIKATOR hope Obscura will showcase their evolution and maturity but will this be enough to launch them towards stardom?

Eager to jump into the centre of the action, bassist/vocalist Patrick Cox initiates a relentlessly distinct vocal assault as Nightmare Dawning utilises hooky characteristics to grab the listener by the throat. Already oozing with a no bullshit attitude, Poisoned To Sorrow takes a step away from the bands thrash foundations and evolves their sound with an onslaught of clean cut riffs and shrieking guitar solos.

Revolve transports you into a new era of ERADIKATOR as they create a clash of savagery and sophistication, drawing elements of German thrash and melodic old school tastiness. Unmistakable vocals take the spotlight in Haunting before the sound is dominated by solo strikes and consistently hard as nails demeanour – an instant hit. Following the unusual yet relatable lyrical theme of stages of grief was perhaps daunting at the writing stage but it contributes to the delivery of the album more than you might think. Take Hourglass for example; presumably about the importance of time in context to the lyrics it gradually explodes in your ears using witty experimentation and raw heavy metal to augment the concept.

ALICE IN CHAINS influences peek through Eyes Of Old but these metal rebels don’t let it define their sound, sticking true to their evolved identity and demonstrating their musical mastery while they are at it. Commendable guitarists Andy MacNevin and Liam Priest spend most of the album throwing volleys of melodious wails with precision but Bound To You is unrelenting, even by ERADIKATOR standards. Perhaps a reminder of the roots of metal, I Want To Believe kicks off with a tasty blues display before leaping seamlessly into the attitude driven song-writing that is ceaseless throughout the album. Finally, The Siren Song closes a solemn curtain on what is undeniably a persistently fresh, thunderous yet adept musical journey.

With unique vocals that permeate identity, consistent yet furious delivery and more wailing guitars than a Gibson roadshow; Obscura is everything you want from an attitude laced metal album. A musical journey from start to finish it does everything you want it to do while maintaining a fresh sound and surprising you in the meantime. It can often be hard to make the music coincide with the lyrical themes but ERADIKATOR do an admirable job. With more live performances inevitable and seemingly endless sources of energy it’s without doubt that this ambitious quartet will blast through the underground and rise again towards rewarding possibilities.

Rating: 8/10

Obscura is out now via Divebomb Records. 

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