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If you follow the ratings for the releases by the German Black metal act Pest, one would notice that many have more favorable opinions about the band as they progress. Tenebris Obortis marks the band's fourth full-length effort, and if the history of composing more solid music each album holds true, then this release should be a fantastically blasphemous Black Metal romp through all the typical territories of the style. Either way, whatever your stance on prior Pest efforts are, there's a good chance that Tenebris Obortis is the true Black Metal assault you are looking for. Tenebris Obortis is just a Black Metal album that never lets up. The production quality of the recording may aggrivate some, as the production quality winds up being rather clear in the long run, but for those who don't judge Black Metal acts by how raw a quality they can produce, the're nowhere near enough clearl digital work done to hinder the music. Each track just comes at you like a bullet, tearing it's way through everything with pure intensity and howling Black Metal shrieks that aren't too close to the forefunt of the recording to dominate everything. The overall atmosphere of this recording is grim and evil, but it's not necessarily the only feeling the listener will come back with. "Weltgericht" actually slows down from it's onslaught about a third of the way into the song, changing pace to a more somber, even glorious piece for just a short amount of time. However, this window gives enough proof that this album is not just fast drumming that falls just short of being nothing but absolute blast beats, and showcases that the band still has what it takes to weave creative and atmosphere passages into their music without completely losing sight of what it was they originally set out with. "Wasteland" winds up being a pinnacle track for the album, as well as the much shorter instrumental track "Bonded" and parts of "Schnee und Eis", and it's basically for the same reason. The mood of the music to the song captures the title perfectly, starting things off in a very slow, haunting pace that makes the listener feel like all hope is lost as voices echo and wail a song into the listener's ear. This nicely refined track breaks up the faster paced tracks very well, and winds up being a haunting track that will stay lodged in your skull for a while thanks to the band's musicianship. Of course, right after this track they go right back to their faster ways with "Decontamination", which has a slightly odd intro thanks to the way the guitars are played, leaving one chord in particular sound as if I should be looking for a surf board. Of course, this is just minor and only appears a few times at the start of the song. While these slower moments have a great impact on Tenebris Obortis, the real draw to this album for any listener will be the pure Black Metal anger that is littered throughout the album. While the introduction track "Tenebris Obortis" winds up being rather pointless in the final mix to the album outside of setting up some of the atmosphere you'll be greeted with throughout the album, the songs "Trance" and "Ewiges Grab" are fantastic songs that really cause the band to stand out, but the last two tracks on here take things into a whole other direction. "Riding the Storms" and "Entering Forest" actually sound rather different compared to the rest as far as the production goes alone. "Riding the Storms" is actually a quick, Black Metal assault that clocks in under two minutes, but is just full of the early first wave of Black Metal type of music, layered heavily with angry vocals and just sheer intensity that will send you back when you first hear it. This is followed immediately with the closing song "Entering Forest" which sounds like an homage to the early second wave style of Black Metal, and while it's a song that will hold the listener's attention, it just isn't anything all too unique or fantastic when you look at what is presented on this album. Atop that, the ending of the song feels drawn out when you hit the four minute mark, though it sets up the same kind of desolate feeling that "Wasteland" had, just more isolated in a sense due to the acoustic guitars utilized. Tenebris Onortis is a fantastic Black Metal album that is chock full of poisonous rage and atmosphere to throw the listener into a violent, dark world, Really, with the exception of the last two tracks that should have just been kept off the album due to how out of place they sound, regardless of how well the closing of "Entering Forest" sounds, this is a solid release that any fan of the style is going to love. Pest have continued to grow and once again have put together an album that far surpasses their previous outings, and gain the recognition that this group strongly deserves. |
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