OBITUARY : DARKEST DAY
Candlelight Records
Four years ago now, after nigh on a decade’s voluntary ‘hibernation’, the timeless Obituary awoke blearily, and rumbled slowly into the daylight. “Frozen In Time” was a solid if uncertain first yawning step, two years on, and the beast rediscovered its hunger with the venomous “Xecutioners Return”, a vicious and hateful aural assault… yet still… you could sense that still greater things were conceivable.
Finally in 2009, the king of the forest/swamp (delete as applicable) is now fully ready to reclaim its throne. “Darkest Day” is the sound of a band absolutely re-invigorated, massive in stature – yet totally muscular and without an ounce of fat – here is the sound of nature’s alpha male ‘beast’ in all its unfettered fury! The grooviest death metal band EVER sound simply magnificent, their power comes not from technicality, but from sullen swamp swagger – they do it in a way that is indisputably “theirs” – to copy such a distinct sound would be sheer stupidity.
Also absolutely essential to ‘their’ sound is “THAT” voice… John Tardy! To carry on with the nature analogy – he sounds like the bastard offspring of a grizzly bear and a fucking yeti/sasquatch! (or what I imagine one sounds like…). That bestial howl – and it is a howl – is absolutely unique, you just instantly ‘know’, it simply couldn’t be anyone else.
The Donald Tardy/Frank Watkins/Trevor Perez rhythm section sound lock-tight and absolutely unstoppable, their furious onslaught heavier and scarier than a herd of rogue elephants! Just brilliant. Ralph Santolla is now indisputably THE only true lead shredder for the Floridian legends, he asserts his place with ease, yet never overplays, he has perfected the art of “less is more”, and has added a new layer of feral savagery to this already monstrous force of nature.
If all goes to plan, this legendary band will be putting together a line-up of seminal Floridian death metal luminaries – to tour the globe, starting in early 2010. Also included would be Cannibal Corpse, Six Feet Under, Deicide, and Morbid Angel!!! Please guys, can we have Autopsy too??? You know as an extreme music fan – you simply HAVE to see this travelling festival of horrors! Obituary… drop dead perfect!
90/100
SATANIC MUTTLEY
