Review: Obsidian Tide- Pillars of Creation
The album starts out with something that immediately made me think of bands like Opeth, Enslaved, country mates Orphaned Land or even Tool with it's weaving melodies and droning but complex riff pattern. This first song, the title track, weaves itself into the second one "Seven" which then in it's second half brings tribal drums and flutes into the mix and more estoeric and jazzy guitar patterns that almost remind one of prime era Pain of Salvation in a way. A cool breezy jam envelops the listener for the final stages of this song.
The next song, "King of a New Realm", starts out as a ballad that starts with some cool strings and somber clean vocals and then resolves to a heavier part before settling down again with a cool piano solo and then going heavy again at the end. Speaking of vocals, the band utilizes two of them- one being Oz Avneya on clean vocals (and also guitars) and Shachar Bieber (bass and harsh vocals). At times, the two singers together almost sound like Mikael Akerfeldt if his vocals were mixed with Einar Solberg of Leprous.
The vocals are of a variety that definitely reminds one of the aforementioned influences, which is certainly not a bad thing, as I prefer the modern clean vocals of said bands to many of the average Metalcore or Djent bands currently dotting the landscape.
The fourth song, "Portent of Betrayal" has a dissonant beginning that definitely brings out that Opeth (or even Voivod) cool riff pattern and then goes to a more traditional progressive pattern. "Hireath" is the next track and it features some cool ambient sounds in the beginning and then going to a heavier prog metal part with harsh vocals and then a great guitar solo and then more orchestral parts before resolving to an epic metal close.
"The Harbinger and the Millennial Vengeance" is another song in the vein of mid-period Opeth (I mention that again, but not in a bad way). It continues with more psychedelic/shoegazing ambient rock parts make this song more of a highlight with an end bass part that almost reminds one of the band Yes. The final song of the album "Magnanimous" resolves the album with some soft prog parts followed by an almost cabaret reminding section then to some cool progressive heavy parts again and more cool riff time changes and grooves including a sax solo (!), resolving in a arpeggiated outro.
The production on Pillars of Creation is dry and clean in a way that has a clarity that a lot of modern metal albums lack. Every instrument is clear in the mix and none of the instruments or performances sound overbearing or suffocating to any of the other instruments. The mastering of the album is also well done, being something that does not induce ear fatigue with over-compression (thank your lucky stars that for many bands the "loudness war" era is over).
Overall, Obsidian Tide have both a familiar sound that sometimes wear their influences on their sleeves, but also with a fresh approach to the Progressive Metal medium. There's is a challenging but accessible sound that will definitely appeal to fans of the aforementioned bands in this review (especially for fans disappointed in the recent sounds of a certain Swedish band mentioned, as Obsidian Tide definitely have more of the middle period vibe of that said band I promise I won't mention again).
You can find information on Obsidian Tide from the following links:
Official website: http://www.obsidiantide.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/obsidiantide/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/obsidiantide/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/obsidiantide
Bandcamp: https://obsidiantide.bandcamp.com/
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