“We are enslaved in a field of bliss.”
On this winter evening in Islington, a sea of chilly metalheads gathered in preparation for an aural journey through the raw and intricate landscapes of death metal. This event was part of Obscura’s Silver Lining European Tour, a night promising to deliver crushing riffs and mesmerising technicality, supported by Skeletal Remains and Gorod.
Crammed into O2 Academy2 Islington, the smaller of the two Islington spots, this London venue truly added to the brutal underground feeling of this violent line-up. The walls were stacked with a variety of gorily-decorated merchandise; and the stage was equipped with suffocating smoke machines and bright, artificial lighting – creating the perfect atmosphere for the sheer belligerence that was about to be released.
Words by Emily Cole, photography by Dobbin T – contact prior to any use.
Kicking off the show with a progressive start were French tech-death aggressors, Gorod. Hailing from Bordeaux, Gorod wasted no time proving that France takes their death metal with the utmost seriousness. Each of their songs were brimming with intricate, grinding patterns and syncopated rhythms, which were seamlessly blended with tasteful melodies and straight headbanger riffs. Despite the pure guttural intensity of their sound, their stage presence was laid-back and almost humorous at times, with their guitarist switching between playing insanely technical, tapped riffs and displaying playful facial expressions. Another stand-out member was their drummer, Karol Diers, who had the crowd fully immersed with his drum breakdown and solo, putting everyone under “Bekhten’s Curse”. As a gateway band into the more intricate realms of death metal, Gorod’s performance was a perfect introduction to the genre’s complexities – a thrilling experience that was as captivating as it was brutal.
Following Gorod and mixing things up with some Californian old-school death metal were visceral hard-hitters, Skeletal Remains. Unfortunately, their set started with some technical faults and disruptions, which was at no fault of their own, but it certainly staggered the beginning of their performance. Even under these circumstances, Skeletal Remains made it known that they are one of the best embodiments of OSDM in the modern scene, with crushing, filthy bass tones from Brian Rush, as well as gritty riffs and Schuldiner-esque, hostile vocals from Chris Monroy. The band played a solid set, including plenty of tracks from their latest release, Fragments of the Ageless, which is certainly one of their most solid works to date. The band powered through their set using “Torturous Ways to Obliteration” and undoubtedly, “Conquering the Devout”. Skeletal Remains truly exceeded all expectations, leaving the crowd with a “Relentless Appetite”for more.
Closing out this night of death metal ferocity was German headliners, Obscura. Known for their mastery of progressive and technical death metal, the band delivered an entrancing set, overflowing with delicate compositions and exceptional musicianship from all members of the band. One of the most notable aspects of their performance was the sweep-picked arpeggios performed by both guitarists, as they were among the most impressive I’ve witnessed—executed with both precision and effortless fluidity. In addition to this, Steffen Kummerer’s vocals were a great example of skill and consistency – with primitive, guttural lows as well as his classic mid-ranged scream.
While progressive and highly technical music can be fatiguing at times, Obscura effortlessly managed to captivate the audience through their entire performance. Their songwriting is rich with dynamic shifts, seamlessly merging melodic instrumentals and brutal breakdowns together in a way that makes even their longest songs power by. The setlist featured tracks from their latest album, A Sonication, which was met with just as much enthusiasm as their hard-hitting classics from the 2000’s.
It is undeniable that no “Silver Linings” are needed when reflecting on Obscura’s performance as each “Orbital Element” was nothing short of flawless.