I have not had the pleasure of hearing anything new on Bindrune Recordings the US Minnesotan based label for some time. They are not that prolific but their releases are always interesting and it was quickly evident that Obsiquiae was no exception. This due has ties to another band who I reviewed on the label Celestiial as well as both members being in demo band Autumnal Winds, who we are informed it is unlikely that we have heard of. Apparently that group were put to rest before they could achieve a proper album or their potential and Obsiquiae was the artistic result. A cassette and several live performances followed, all of which led to the band recording this the strangely entitled (to me something right out of a Clive Barker novel) ‘Suspended In The Brume Of Eos’
The first thing that strikes is the lovely medieval artwork of the album and it does as we later discover give some clues to the music within. ‘Altars Of Moss’ quickly comes in after a patch of swirling water with some really delirious and harmonious guitar work, this is a sound that continues throughout the album and at first had me thinking a bit of the convoluted riffing style of a band like Mastodon and as I got further into things a little of Krallice as well. Vocals courtesy of Blondel de Nesle are blackened and rasping but not really designed to tear out the throat but more as a companion to the music, urging it along. Riffs can be quite muscular and drums are constant but nothing is overbearing in the mix and the harmonies and melodies really shine through. We mentioned medieval and inside the booklet there are photos of Norman looking castle and church but the music suddenly takes a change as we go back in time with ‘Sidhe’ to a gentle piece of lute seeped music straight out the Middle Ages. The difference between this and the wild change of tempo on ‘In The White Fields’ kind of turns you on your head and make the wildly progressive textures of the guitar work really stand out. None of the songs go for the epic feel and we are quickly into the title track which again sounds completely different, slow and doom laden, with drums delivering heavy pounds and vocals more gravid and urgent before the guitar again segues in with more dextrous warped riffs.
You never really know what is going to come next here and the album continuously keeps you flowing from one passage to next. Occasional acoustic medieval tracks break up the more blackened leanings of the modern age and the styles work nicely to compliment each other. The album could have been an over the top epic noodle fest, it’s obvious the duo are really good at what they do but they don’t rub your faces in it and keep your interest levels up for the entirety of the surprisingly compact 41 minute running time of the album. If you are interested in some clever and imaginative USBM this is well worth seeking out.
http://bindrunerecordings.com
Pete Woods
MTUK HOME
