Obelisk - Omens (Remastered)

COMING SOON

The idea of reincarnation has existed in ancient texts for millennia, tracing back to many different cultures that considered some of their fiercest warriors to be actual vessels of gods in their respective mythology.  When an uncompromising beast has spent much time in barbaric battle, there may be an appropriate moment to claim a new body, and so, Omens was reborn.  The most recent EP from Obelisk has transferred its soul into a new monolith, with the same songs that have earned their place in Valhalla's glorious, ornate halls; but now with a new life permeated into them.  This new sound is heavy, it's intense and it's huge.  The songs have finally gained the production that they deserved from their initial conception, and I couldn't be happier with what I'm hearing from Nashville's Melodic Death Metal veterans.  

For those of you who aren't in the know, now is the perfect time to catch up.  Obelisk has been in the scene for nine years now, and with their return to the studio that brought us Omens, their craft was finally perfected beyond their now-defunct debut and sophomore EPs.  With their confidence and precision in the studio, Obelisk's 2017 triumph allowed the band to flourish in the recordings of these five superb tracks that have only enhanced with age.  Utilizing thematics and aesthetics, but not relying solely upon them, has been a true selling point on Obelisk for me ever since I first saw them live three years ago.  This music is fit to play as you ride your valiant steed into combat (be it in actuality or in your DnD campaign), but it'll make you feel like a warrior wherever you see it fit to listen to it.

Gazing upon the glorious cover art, ghastly apparitions surrounding an incredible monument is exactly what you should expect from the music.  It's angry and loud when it wants to be, but it knows when to keep itself reserved to a more subtle state.  Obelisk isn't hear to be in your face for twenty-five minutes; that's been done plenty of times before, and at this point, it's a much safer option that doing anything that branches beyond that.  Obelisk doesn't pay any mind to the idea of staying safe, so the band offers something new every time they strike a chord.  Many Metal bands condemn the use of keyboards and the occasional implementation of clean singing perhaps as some distorted method of attempting to preserve their masculinity, or gatekeeping all things "kvlt."  Obelisk doesn't fall for this trap of pretension, and they deliver exactly what it is that they have to say.   

Guitars that frequently alternate between tremolo picking and riffs that utilize palm-mute techniques with meticulous precision offer a sound that's never been done better.  The leads and solos are beautifully precise, with plenty of soul to make the sonic landscape sound as intriguing as possible.  Blast-beats and double-kick patterns are incorporated only for emphasis when they're necessary, and when they come in, it would take every bit of your willpower to keep your head still (but why would you want to?).  The keys are truly able to shine on this new master, coloring this musical portrait to be vivid and spectacular to its utmost potential.  Vocally, Omens is frontman Waleid Elchaer's most refined performance yet, letting his harsh growl sound as welcoming as a growl can.  The remastered version of this EP has a much cleaner low-end to perfectly round-out the mix, which finally brings all of the elements together into a seamless blend of audible ingredients.

There are seas of bands that have attempted a valorous sound through the techniques of Melodic Death Metal, but have fallen to mediocrity or rewriting the same songs ad nauseam, and I want to make it clear that Obelisk has managed to steer away from that stereotype into their own fearful realm.  The music on Omens is incredibly dynamic and varied, often taking the listener on a journey through heavy Death Metal riffs into pleasant or eerie passages dominated by Shane Cathey's masterful proficiency on the synthesizer.  The record closes with the track "As Winter Fell," which is likely the greatest example of the band's diverse sound, containing riffs that will absolutely be stuck in your head for weeks, ensuring your return to the material.

2019 marks the victorious return of the beloved Omens EP by a band whose songs speak so loudly that they'd sound excellent and pristine even a crusty, raw lo-fi demo tape.  Thankfully, they know their music deserves better than that, and the band has made an effort to bring their already-stellar release to new heights with this remastered version.  A heroic soldier has just been knighted, and he upgraded his armor for maximum enhancement.  Look out for the remastered version of Obelisk's latest offering, which should officially appear on the group's Bandcamp before the week ends.  Oh, and when the right riff calls for it, give the band your energy.  Trust me.