Obscura - "A Sonication"

[Ducky]

Newie from Kummerer and (hired) Co. incoming for 07/02/2025.

New track "Silver Linings" sounds like a continuation of the sound on "A Valediction", minus Muenzner's flair. Most noteworthy thing for me is Robin Zeilhorst (formerly of Exvious) looks to be in on bass. Amazing player who dropped off my radar this last decade.

Video premiers at 16:00 today.

[Trev]

Zeilhorst played on Urn from Ne Obliviscaris, but other than that I can't remember him doing anything since Exivious finished up

Can't really make out who any of the rest are, but I'm sure in the next few days the names of these future ex-members will be confirmed

[Bürggermeister]

He plays in a few Dutch groups, notably Our Oceans and Crown Compass, both feature other Exivious heads

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_ujSveAPh0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlpxdzrO3tU

[Ducky]

Shit yeah I forgot about Our Oceans. Exivous' "fuck this metal stuff, where's my Telecaster" moment. Not entirely unlike Cynic's transition to Portal in ways.

Drummer is James Stewart; been playing with Decapitated for a few years, was Vader's drummer for a decade, been doing live work for Belphegor, and has appeared on the last few Gama Bomb releases as a session player.

No clue about the lad on guitar.

Song sounds decent but nothing new. Diminishing returns from Kummerer at this stage... at least the three lads might have a good band together when they inevitably exit

[Anvil]

The only thing I have ever heard from Obscura is A Valediction and I liked it, though not enough to buy the rest of their back catalogue.  Am I missing out?

 I'm loving the bass on that new track, though. 

[Trev]

Gave the new song a listen, it's standard Obscura really, not a bad thing but you know what to expect with them

Are his vocals struggling a bit, or mixed lower down? Something sounds a bit off but maybe it's just listening through my crappy laptop speakers

The only thing I have ever heard from Obscura is A Valediction and I liked it, though not enough to buy the rest of their back catalogue.  Am I missing out?

 I'm loving the bass on that new track, though. 

Give Omnivium a listen, I reckon that's their best album

[Ducky]

Gave the new song a listen, it's standard Obscura really, not a bad thing but you know what to expect with them

Are his vocals struggling a bit, or mixed lower down? Something sounds a bit off but maybe it's just listening through my crappy laptop speakers

The only thing I have ever heard from Obscura is A Valediction and I liked it, though not enough to buy the rest of their back catalogue.  Am I missing out?

 I'm loving the bass on that new track, though. 

Give Omnivium a listen, I reckon that's their best album

I agree, the mix sounds a bit off. I've downloaded it from Spotify and played back through my good headphones and it sounds quite flat and lacking oomph. Played it back to back with their other stuff and that confirms (especially their older albums. The kicks have very little presence at all).

[Ducky]

The only thing I have ever heard from Obscura is A Valediction and I liked it, though not enough to buy the rest of their back catalogue.  Am I missing out?

 I'm loving the bass on that new track, though. 

I agree with Trev - Omnivium is probably their best. Despite the fact that they've only had a stable line up for two of their albums (Omnivium being the second of those two, probably not coincidentally), they're pretty consistent in terms of quality. And the bass playing is always top tier.

[Trev]

Read an interview with Hannes Grossmann a while ago and he said that he wrote about 80% of Omnivium, and half of Cosmogenesis, guess that's why those two are still their standout albums!😂

[Petardo]

The first album is decent enough. Cosmogenesis and Omnivium are absolute belters.

Arkoasis had great ideas but didn't have songs strong enough to carry them. I have a soft spot for Diluvium. The last three tracks on that are fucking gems.

I saw them supporting Cynic in Feb. They were seriously tight. Alex Webber from Exist on bass duties. A thumb player. Fucking savage.

That new track sounds a bit business as usual. The last album passed me by completely. I must revisit.

[Ducky]

Read an interview with Hannes Grossmann a while ago and he said that he wrote about 80% of Omnivium, and half of Cosmogenesis, guess that's why those two are still their standout albums!😂

Ha, yeah read that too! I remember when I first listened to "The Radial Covenant" and thinking "did he write the last two Obscura albums, because this is a straight continuation of them", and sure here we are