As Obscene Entity power into the climatic riff of the track Insanity Binds, someone shouts the word “fuck”. Now, normally that kind of posturing would have me rolling my eyes, thinking of Lars Ulrich. But the particular moment at which it is exclaimed, after the band have just powered through a veritable maelstrom of death metal riffs before returning successfully to the song’s main riff, it comes across as totally genuine. Even triumphant. You find yourself totally behind them. Fuck!
I can’t think of a better way to illustrate the joy of Obscene Entity’s debut album Lamentia.
Loosely based around the theme of mental fragility, this intense and heartfelt album pulls you down a rabbit hole of tortured death metal. The album starts off with the Gojira-fronted-by-Jeff Walker assault of Planetary Devastation. It’s a good, solid opener but the album kicks into another gear as Hymns of the Faithless veers from a dizzy, swirling riff midway through the track into a groovy, stop-start breakdown. It’s the kind of stuff that makes you gurn like Phil Anselmo. Listen to this on the bus at your peril.
And from there on the album just seems to intensify, the band continually adding new elements and styles. The title track has a whirling dervish riff and ringing chords that bring to mind Emperor and Euphoric Vanity employs some guitar progginess in a wonderful Chuck Schuldiner vein. The twin vocals of guitarist Matt Adnett (also of Shrines) and bassist Calum Gibb keep things varied throughout: ranging from brute Behemoth growls to hoarse blackened snarls. But the top honours go to drummer Luke Braddick. For an album this vehement, it’s remarkably hooky and those hooks are powered and enhanced by Luke’s dynamic and tasteful playing. Throughout, the band plays a modern style but has a classic sensibility and chemistry: constantly reining themselves in, allowing space for all the parts to have maximum effect. This quality, aided by the powerfully clear production from Dan Abela, only adds to the album’s power and intensity.
There are a lot of approaches and influences on Lamentia and my only concern is that the band haven’t quite found their unique voice yet. But it’s never derivative and the prospect of the band developing and finding that voice on future releases is tantalising. But until then, there’s plenty to enjoy and gurn at in Lamentia. It’s unreconstructed death metal performed with remarkable skill, piss and vinegar. Expect to see this in my end-of-year Top Ten, it’s a fantastic debut. Fuck!
Obscene Entity on Bandcamp: http://obsceneentity.bandcamp.com/
Obscene Entity on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ObsceneEntity/
HEAVY METAL OVERLOAD 
I love that you used the word “gurn” in a sentence!
This isn’t bad! It has some serious groove to it but the drums sound really brittle.
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Massive groove. Hadn’t thought about the drums like that but fair enough.
And gurn… it’s a word I always mean to use more!
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Well done on that sir!
Sounds like the kind of thing Aaron listens to when he’s driving 😉
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Haha, I think he’d like this album actually!
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Gurn Bitch Gurn is a leftover Simmons track from the Animalize sessions!
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I was looking for something to soundtrack the school Christmas fete this year too. Thank you.
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With music this festive, I wouldn’t even bother with the decorations, presents, games etc… The kids will still get the Christmas vibe when they hear this. If they’ve been good, treat them to some PaRtY cAnNoN afterwards too.
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Gurn baby gurn! Metal inferno!
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Wow, this one sounds like it could strip paint.
You had me at “The album starts off with the Gojira-fronted-by-Jeff Walker assault of Planetary Devastation.”
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Not could. Did. I’ll be sending them a bill.
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Awesome! It was probably time to repaint the room anyway. 🙂
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Valuable review, as always, Scott. What about that cool band logo? I see that “reined in for greater overall effect” you express there with Entity’s “E” enlivening the pupil…oh the pupil is aflame…that is enlightening. The overall asymetry and handcraft adds personality, imo. I like how the lowercase y outstretches, also. Penty demonstrated before I’ve hear one note.. Fuck.
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Valuable review, as always, Scott. What about that cool band logo? I see that “reined in for greater overall effect” you express there with Entity’s “E” enlivening the pupil…oh the pupil is aflame…that is enlightening. The overall asymetry and handcraft adds personality, imo. I like how the lowercase y outstretches, also. Penty demonstrated before I’ve heard one note.., Fuck.
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It’s a cool logo right enough and an interesting choice of cover for a death metal album don’t you think? Not sure if I was flicking through the racks I’d think “ooh, a death metal album”. Maybe more a doom or stoner thing. I like how they went with something a bit different, a lot of covers are so predictable now. I believe the drummer did all the artwork.
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I was feeling a doom vibe with the duatone work also. Yeah, dig the fountainhead of text too. Thought it was dread lock texture in thumbnail view but zooming in was more rewarding. I like the tacktileness and further cool if it’s Luke Braddick’s work, the drummer. Want to hear him. Will check into their work tonight
re: predictable covers, that’s what made Shrines cool for me too!
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Yes the text in the hair is a great touch. And good point about Shrines, that had great artwork too. I’d like the shirt of that actually! Hope you like Obscene Entity, let me know what you think. Always good to hear from you Adam!
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Think my brain melted a little …
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