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| Finally, a first full length for Obitus. Well, technically it's the second since there was a full length name "Sonnilon" back in 2001, but it was never released. It was worth the wait, since "The March of the Drones" is one fine piece of raw and brutal Black Metal that I've been spinning at every possible occasion ever since the first time it beat the crap out of my eardrums. The album has a very negative, sort of apocalyptic atmosphere to it. This is further enhanced through some great vocal work - shrieking, ear-piercing, razor-sharp vocals that spit hate right in your face. The music itself is raw, yet the sound is very clean overall. The album is fast-paced overall, with a few mid-paced passages as well as some nearly silent moment where you can't help but think that a nuclear bomb is about to detonate - I guess this could be qualified as "suspense". The fast-paced passages (which is most of the album) take no prisoners, with the drums pounded away fast and heavy, and the speedy, raw guitars as razor-sharp as the vocals both united in a savage march of destruction. If you want artsy, symphonic Black Metal, you won't find it here. The March of the Drones, like Obitus' past work, is all about hate and destruction. What they've done here is show that they could top themselves and deliver a consistently good full length album filled with their signature of apocalyptic hatred. Good stuff. 4.5/5 Review by:Michel Renaud of MetalCrypt
Black Metal it reads and that is exactly what it is, anyone for some furious fast riffing and screaming? And how about some blast beats for good measure? Yup, that is what OBITUS provides us with in abundance on this, their second full-length album and incidentally, their first album never saw the light of day, so I guess this is in a way their debut album. OBITUS, who hail from Sweden, consist of two members, Anders Ahlbäck and Johan Huldtgren, who amongst them handle all the song writing and instruments. As with most other types of Metal, the origin of a Black Metal band can sometimes be deduced with fair accuracy by listening to the particular sound and characteristics of their music. (For me at least) OBITUS has that slight metallic edgy sound that I have heard from other Swedish Black Metal bands, while bands from, for example Norway, might have a more murky, brooding sound in the production and the character of the music.
The album is split into three parts, Summer, Fall and Winter, and with the tracks flowing seamlessly into one, it alludes to the album being a concept album and should be listened through in one sitting. There is not much more I can say about though, as it is pretty much Black Metal as you would expect it to be, aggressive, fast and relentlessly heavy for the most part, with only a few quieter moments that add a sense of eeriness. The last three tracks are quite lengthy for the genre, but luckily, it does not drag on for too long and successfully avoids the “skip” button. I especially enjoyed the last track, “The Drone Marches On” – towards the middle of the song the vocals are kicked aside for an extensive and epic instrumental passage, which communicates the authority of the album very well.
OBITUS were formed seven years before the release of this album, and the quality of the overall production and the performance of the duo bear witness to two experienced musicians who deliver a good album and a convincing performance. “The March Of The Drones” is worth checking out and if you are a label type, OBITUS is definitely worth signing. (Leans back and presses “play”, again) Review by:Jean-Pierre of Metal Observer |