Have you been sharpening your steel, drinking mead like no tomorrow and waiting for the next sea trip to enemy village? Do you carry craving for cutting your adversary's stomach and biting his throat, tasting and smelling the gore and guts? Are you dreaming of pillaging their village, raping their women, and burning cottages? Then, Germany's pagan death metallers Obscurity's sixth full length album might well taste for you in meantime. Sadly I cannot compare this to the band's older releases, so keep that in mind, please.

Nowadays, this kind of metal cannot be called as unique. First impression I got was Amon Amarth, as 'In Nomine Patris' started to blast from speakers. Older Amon Amarth. Obscurity have similar fire and energy in their souls as Swedes had back in time. So, this is definitely an attacking album, and not any easygoing mead drinking anthems. Okay, mead is a perfect companion for this, no doubt about that. Familiar German pagan metal styles are other sides of Obscurity. The band might have been one of the pioneers of German pagan metal, as they formed in 1997, but now, the melodies, and trebly and open-stringed guitar playing feels so typical. There are some other influences too, as the title track has a kind of Finntroll kick going on, and 'Strandhogg' sounds like Vreid and such Norwegian acts. Atmosphere is aggressive, and on a few occasions only, more epic bits can be heard, meaning when some synths, choirs etc. are added. E.g. 'So Endet Meine Zeit' has soundtrack-ish qualities. Obscurity are a metal band, and they do not play pipes, hurdy gurdy or other folk music instruments, some acoustic guitars are enough and work well. Every song isn't equally engaging, but there are no flops, nor average songs. The quality of the song material is pretty much between good and great.

Obscurity are a metal band, and they do not play pipes, hurdy gurdy or other folk music instruments. The vocals are about blood-thirsty growls and squalling with some added stuff, clearly not throat-friendly. Everything is sung in German, but lyrical themes should be rather clear when reading the song titles. There are some viking choirs heard, but not that much. Heavy, thick and rough guitar riffs are accompanied by aforementioned black metal styles. The guitar melodies are kept on slightly lower level, but still they play important role whenever they occur. The pace varies from mid-paced to faster. The drumming includes loads of double kick drumming and blast beating. Bulldozing bass is nicely audible even during faster parts. This brings us to the production job, which is good. It sounds organic (no sign of drum triggering, for example) and mixing is good, as every element has its place.

'Obscurity' is tightly performed, good-sounding, and does not let down on the song department. It kicks ass, in short. Surely, the music sounds like nothing new nowadays, but still, if you are looking for energetic pagan metal in vein of older Amon Amarth, this should do the trick. The world still needs this kind of music. Pure pagan/viking entertainment, this one. Raise that fist and swallow that mead, and go berzerk!!! It's going to be a rough night...

Rating: 8- (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
02/25/2013 18:59