EP REVIEW: Obscuration – Relics of Humanity

RELICS OF HUMANITY have been tearing a course of destruction for over a decade now, with their brand of brutality earning them respect and a good following in the extreme metal underground. Now set to release their newest offering in Obscuration, the band clearly show their ability to craft suffocating atmospheres enhanced by the sheer brute strength the band possess, but in order to do this the band pass through a few hiccups on the way.

Immediately RELICS OF HUMANITY thrust the listener through the gauntlet once more, as the thunderous opening of Ani Kihu Alamu proves the band to not have lost any of their stepping in between releases. The downtuned guitars sound compressed as you like, mimicking a frantic victim as they press themselves against a wall to escape a predator. The music feels to be throttling with the intention of murder, as the pace is simply carried over to the following When Darkness Consumes God’s Throne.

One of the best things about Obscuration is its ability to send listeners reeling with its frantic heaviness. Moments of blistering speed are brought out like the hounds of hell and released with similar, sadistic enthusiasm whilst the sudden stops hit as hard as a car into a brick wall. After the novelty of this impressive strength is removed though, it becomes remarkably easy to notice that there are gaps in the playing that stand out the more you notice. The drumming is inconsistent, and whilst it remains impressive the lack of any real accented snare hits when the blasts pick up prevents even more power being injected into the music. Lasting impressions could’ve been made instead of simple dents.

The annoying thing is that there are examples of how essential the basics are, with the introduction to Whipping The Cursed providing hammer blasts that feel concussive, backed up by muted guitars that wield a hellish energy. There are clear highlights throughout the album, and the production gives the EP a grainy feel that adds a sense of history to the music, even if their contemporaries are currently writing music that sounds clearer and significantly heavier as a result.

By the end of Obscuration there will undoubtedly be an itch that is scratched, but this isn’t groundbreaking by any stretch of the imagination. RELICS OF HUMANITY never set out to re-write the rule book with a single EP, but it doesn’t feel like the band pushed past anything, not even their comfort zone. This is six songs of punishing, brutal death metal done by a band who have consistently proven the addictive power of heaviness. This is an excellent introduction for any intrepid fan looking to explore the gory underworld of metal, but for a lasting listen there are a multitude of better options.

Rating: 5/10

Obscuration is out now via Willowtip Records.

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