Reviews

CD Review: OBSCURA – Omnivium

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Discounting the formative, retrospectively uncharacteristic Retribution – well received at the time but juvenilia in hindsight – Obscura launched themselves to the forefront of the technical death metal movement with 2009's Cosmogenesis.  The big question leading into this year's Omnivium was what, if anything, they could do to top that previous effort. (more…)

A/V

A/V Roundup: AGALLOCH Live Set Streaming, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY & OBSCURA Full Album Streams, New Music From PERIPHERY, DEVIN TOWNSEND, AMON AMARTH and more

Wow, this week flew by completely. We're still catching up on life in the office after an insane few days at SXSW. In the interim, a lot of new music became available, that we may have missed. We decided to do a quick pre-weekend roundup of all the sweet free tunes available to make your weekend a little less lame: (more…)

Upcoming Releases

New OBSCURA Album Art Looks Awesome

If you watched the most recent edition of the FiX, you would know that Obscura's upcoming Omnivium release, is one of my most anticipated of the year. And now, said release has artwork – and the art looks AH MAY ZING. The album comes out March 29th, which is only two months away. Holy fuck, I am pumped! Click on the album art to see it in a higher resolution. Relapse has already created a bunch of enticing pre-orders.

Upcoming Releases

OBSCURA Is About To Melt Your Face Off With A New Album

OBSCURA

It looks like 2011 is going to be an amazing year for metal. Relapse recently sent out a press release announcing Obscura have completed work on their forthcoming release Omnivium. The album was recorded at Germany's Woodshed Studio with V. Santura controlling the boards. It's scheduled for a March 2011 release. Here is the full press release with all the info: (more…)

Latest News

OBSCURA begin recording new album

by Graham "Gruhamed" Hartmann

Here’s some exciting news for you guys; tech-death masters OBSCURA have begun recording their 3rd studio album at Woodshed Studio in their native Germany. The band are once again teaming up with producer V. Santura, who manned the board on their breakthrough album, Cosmogenesis and re-mastered their full-length debut, Retribution.

OBSCURA founder Steffen Kummerer commented on the new album;

"We are glad to work with our long-time friend V.Santura once again to record our new album. The new material feels broader in some way as everybody in this band brought many unique ideas to the songwriting and we were able to integrate different elements into our sound. More open chords, more acoustic guitars, more seven string shred-tunes. Remember: more is always more. We are excited to create another album of progressive death metal and to start touring through the whole world in early 2011.”

Cosmogenesis became a favorite of technical metal fans in 2009, containing diamonds such as “Anticosmic Overload” and “Incarnated,” the latter being based on the German poem “Der Erlkönig, which was more famously used as the base for Franz Schubert’s lieder of the same name. OBSCURA’s recording and touring line-up remains as Kummerer on guitar and vocals, Christian Muenzner (ex-Necrophasgist) on guitar, Jeroen Paul Thesseling (Pestilence) on bass and Hannes Grossman (ex-Necrophagist) on drums. The band will round out the Cosmogenesis touring cycle with a performance as part of the Mezcal Metal Festival in Mexico City, Mexico in September. The presently untitled album is set for an early 2011 release, which will no doubt be one of metal’s most anticipated albums of the year.

Watch more Obscura videos.

Upcoming Releases

PESTILENCE Posts New Track on Myspace

By: Navjot Kaur Sobti

Igniting the legendary death and thrash sectors of metal in 2010, a seeming period of nonstop metal resurrections, is the re-emergence of Pestilence. Set to hit the stages this coming summer, after almost 15+ years of silent repose– zero tours or releases – the group broke their silence with 2009’s Resurrection Macabre, and just recently, with a new track, entitled “amGod.” An early rehearsal recording, featuring just “drum and guitar parts,” the band wished to share a small piece of their upcoming release, which is due later this year.
(more…)

Tour Dates

THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, OBSCURA, AUGURY & HATESPHERE announce 2010 tour dates

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The dudes in THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER are touring machines. They have been on the road non-stop since their album came out in the Summer, and it looks to be about the same for 2010 as they have just announced another killer tour. The band will be taking out tech-metal gods OBSCURA along with AUGURY and HATESPHERE. This is a tour that is not to be missed. Full tour dates after the jump… (more…)

Frank's Favorite Drumers

Frank's Favorite Drummers: Hannes Grossmann / Romain Goulon

Being a drummer myself, I'd have to admit I tend to hone in on his business more so than the rest of the band. It's a well known saying that "the drummer can make or break any band", but there is a lot more to it than hitting things as fast as you can to be amongst the top metal drummers of today. Much consideration went into the following list including: Agility, Diversity, Endurance, Style, Precision, Embellishment, & Showmanship.

Now, I'm not a big fan of "Top 10" lists, I personally feel there is no place for competition in music, but when Rob approached me with the idea of talking about my favorite drummers, how could I decline? I now present my 10 favorites in no particular order. (Give me a break! it was hard enough to narrow a list down to 10.)

Seriously, your not going to make me decide are you? Chances are if you've seen Necrophagist live in the past 5 years, you've seen either one of these guys play (unless you caught the summer slaughter set that featured Marco Minnemann). Now we all know Muhammed changes drummers like some people change their underwear, but he certainly has a knack for equipping himself with some of the top players in the world!

Hannes Grossmann
Bands you can hear him with: Necrophagist, Obscura (Germany)

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Hanneswas the first drummer I've seen play with Necrophagist, and it was nothing short of a jaw dropping experience. I had never seen such technical fast drumming executed in such precision. There was something poetic about the natural ease to what he was doing, like a bear ripping through it's prey. I'll admit I was a bit shocked when I had learned he would no longer be playing with Necrophagist, but once I heard Hannes' new project Obscura all was good in the world again. (more…)

Podcasts

Check out an all new episode of The FiX

We just posted an all new episode of our music video podcast, the FiX featuring videos from OBSCURA, ALESTORM, THE HUMAN ABSTRACT, THY WILL BE DONE, UPHILL BATTLE and DEVILDRIVER. Watch it above!

If you'd like to download the hi-res version of the podcast, click here, or if you would like to subscribe to our podcast, you can do so via iTunes or RSS.

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Podcast: Download

Tour Dates

OBSCURA Pulls Out of RELAPSE's CONTAMINATION TOUR; Some Dates Cancelled

BUMMER ALERT: We just got word from Relapse that due to illness, OBSCURA had to pull out of the tour, resulting in some dates being canceled. Here is the full statement:

Due to illness, Obscura have been forced to cut short the remainder of their North American tour. The Contamination Tour will continue on through May 10th with label-mates Graves of Valor, with appearances on select dates from Brutal Truth and Hero Destroyed.

Obscura vocalist /guitarist Steffen Kummerer issued the following; “Several nights ago, after struggling with illness throughout this tour, I’ve lost my singing voice entirely and can barely speak. At this juncture, it’s best for me to rest rather than deliver anything less than exceptional performances. For all the cities we’ll miss, we’ll be back in the winter to make-up these dates. Thanks to everyone who made our first North American Tour so amazing. We’re looking forward to returning again in the winter.”

So, OBSCURA is off the tour. Dates in Danbury, CT, New York City, Baltimore and Philadelphia are unfortunately canceled. Here are the remaining dates:

May 5 Southgate, MI Modern Exchange
May 6 Cleveland, OH Peabody’s (FREE show!)
May 7 Syracuse, NY Lost Horizon (w/ BRUTAL TRUTH)
May 8 Pittsburgh, PA 31st St Pub (w/ HERO DESTROYED)
May 9 Allentown, PA Sterling Hotel (w/ BRUTAL TRUTH)
May 10 Boston, MA The Church (w/ BRUTAL TRUTH, REVOCATION)
Note: All MI ticket winners will still be on the guest list for these shows

Free Swag The Hook Up

We're giving away a pair of tickets to each stop of the RELAPSE CONTAMINATION TOUR (feat. OBSCURA)

LEAVE A COMMENT TO ENTER

Yes, it's that time again. Time for Metal Injection to once again hook you up. As we previously announced, we are one of the proud sponsors of this year's RELAPSE CONTAMINATION FEST which will feature the mighty OBSCURA, GRAVES OF VALOR and ABYSMAL DAWN. To celebrate, we are giving away a pair of tickets to each stop of the tour. Additionally, one grand prize winner will receive he latest CD from each band: GRAVES OF VALOR: Salarian Gate, OBSCURA – Cosmogenesis, and ABYSMAL DAWN – Programmed to Consume and an official Relapse Records Patch, Button Set, and Relapse Cult T-Shirt.

How do you enter? All you have to do is leave a comment on this post, copy and paste the date/location you want to attend and then write one sentence explaining why you should win. Note that humor wins over begging every time! So what are you waiting for? Here are the dates, comment away:

Apr. 28 – Birmingham, AL – The Nick
Apr. 29 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade
Apr. 30 – Nashville, TN – The Muse
May 01 – Owensboro, KY – The Brothers
May 02 – Indianapolis, IN – Zanies Too
May 03 – Neenaw, WI – Revolutions (GRAVES OF VALOR, ABYSMAL DAWN, special guest)
May 04 – Chicago, IL – Reggie's Rock Club
May 05 – Southgate, MI – Modern Exchange
May 06 – Cleveland, OH – Peabody's Pirate's Cove (free show)
May 07 – Syracuse, NY – The Lost Horizon (w/ special guest)
May 08 – Pittsburgh, PA – 31st St Pub (with HERO DESTROYED)
May 09 – Allentown, PA – The Sterling Hotel (w/ special guest)
May 10 – Boston, MA – The Church of Boston
May 11 – Danbury, CT – Bill Baloney's (GRAVES OF VALOR, ABYSMAL DAWN, special guest)
May 12 – New York, NY – Fontana's
May 13 – Baltimore, MD – Talking Head
May 14 – Philadelphia, PA – Broad Street Ministry

Tour Dates

MI proud to sponsor Relapse Contamination Fest feat. OBSCURA, GRAVES OF VALOR, and ABYSMAL DAWN

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Metal Injection strives to only sponsor the best, and we definitely did it this time, as we are one of the presenting sponsors of this year's Relapse Records Contamination tour featuring 3 of the hottest up and coming Relapse acts: OBSCURA, GRAVES OF VALOR and ABYSMAL DAWN. The shredding will be at an all-time high and we will be sure to be at the NY show to catch all the action. Special guests are still to be announced for some dates, so be on the lookout for those. Also, we will certainly be doing a ticket giveaway for each stop of the tour early next month. Full tour dates after the jump… (more…)

A/V

A/V Roundup: Winds of Plague, Obscura, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Mastodon

Above you will see the new WINDS OF PLAGUE video, Anthems of Apocalypse. Who needs narrative in a video when you can just use 300 footage? I don't know how I feel about that but hey, the video cost them $3 to make and in this economy, maybe that isn't such a bad decision.

Attention: Necrophagist fanboys: Check out OBSCRUA! The band features former drummer Hannes Grossmann and Christian Muenzner. Their new CD, Cosmogenesis, even features an appearance by the legendary Ron Jarzombek (WATCHTOWER, SPASTIC INK, BLOTTED SCIENCE). You can hear the band's entire full-length ObscuraCosmoGenesis.com.

Oh fuck yes! AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED has posted a new song, "Agorapocalypse Now", on the band's MySpace page. Check it out and headbang till your head falls off!

More footage of MASTODON recording Crack The Skye has been posted on Headbangers Blog. This clip deals with Brent getting beat up at the VMAs last year.

Tour Dates

CANNIBAL CORPSE schedule tour with THE FACELESS, OBSCURA, NEURAXIS

OK, even if THE FACELESS were BRET MICHAELS' solo project, it'd be worth seeing them three times this year due to the awesome tour packages they've latched onto. Fortunately, The Faceless have voided any dilemma by making good music and touring with MESHUGGAH and CYNIC (for which we're giving away tickets to each show,) following up with ARSIS, MISERY INDEX and TONY DANZA TAPDANCE EXTRAVAGANZA and climaxing with an opening spot for CANNIBAL CORPSE. Ace Ventura's favorite headbangers will be promoting their newest, Evisceration Plague, and also bringing NEURAXIS and OBSCURA along for the ride. Dates are as follows:

April 02 – Asheville, TN – Orange Peel
April 03 – Memphis, TN – New Daisy Theatre
April 04 – Tulsa, OK – The Marquee
April 06 – Salt Lake City, UT – Avalon
April 07 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory
April 08 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory
April 10 – Vancouver, BC – Croatian Cultural Center
April 11 – Kelowna, BC – Habitat
April 12 – Edmonton, AB – The Starlite
April 13 – Calgary, AB – McEwan Ballroom
April 14 – Regina, SK – Riddell
April 15 – Winnipeg, MB – The Garrick
April 17 – Minneapolis, MN – Station 4
April 18 – Milwaukee, WI – Eagles Ballroom
April 19 – Grand Rapids, MI – Intersection
April 21 – Montreal, QC – The Medley
April 22 – Ottawa, ON – Babylon
April 23 – Quebec City, QC – Le Capitole
April 24 – Poughkeepsie, NY – The Chance
April 25 – Richmond, VA – Alley Katz
April 26 – Jacksonville, NC – Hooligan's Music Hall
April 27 – Jacksonville, FL – Freebird Live

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