Viscera ‘Obsidian’
Album Review By Adam McCann
Unique Leader Records/Technical Death Metal/Deathcore
Viscera is a name that will be hugely unfamiliar with a lot of people. Yet, in the coming months it is guaranteed that this name will become much wider known within the metal community. Whilst refraining from using the word supergroup, Viscera is formed from some of the UK’s most prominent modern metal bands such as Sylosis, Heart of a Coward, Martyr Defiled and Abhorrent Decimation with the death metal band delivering their debut album ‘Obsidian’.
With ‘Obsidian’, Viscera draw upon each one of their experiences to create an album which is a very contemporary sounding record. There are plenty of fast paced notes which are stereotypical of newer bands within this genre where the classic riff is almost replaced with a flurry of technical repeating notes, polyrhythms and syncopations juxtaposed with brutal breakdowns that almost become the centre piece of each song. Furthermore, unlike more old-school death metal sounding albums, ‘Obsidian’ focuses very much on personal struggles, mental health and overcoming these tribulations. This is all delivered through a very modern production, a professional sheen that makes ‘Obsidian’ a very mature and accessible album appealing to wide demographic of metal fans through its overarching technical death metal sound, but also an undertone of deathcore as vocalist Jamie Graham shows his prowess delivering both deep growls and more high pitched growls.
As already noted, ‘Obsidian’ has the ability to appeal to a wide demographic of metal fans; unfortunately, there will be a large proportion of the metal world who just won’t get this album. However, these will be eclipsed by fans who will find that Viscera may just become their new favourite band.
Rating : 70/100
MHF Magazine/Adam McCann
