NE OBLIVISCARIS

(AUSTRALIA)

EXUL

(2023)
LABEL:

SEASON OF MIST

GENRE:

DEATH METAL

TAGS:
Epic, Growl, Melancholic, Technical
"With this dark and tormented "Exul", Ne Obliviscaris loses some of its magic, but compensates with a formidable technical precision and a flawless production."
NEWF (31.03.2023)  
4/5
(0) opinions (0) comment(s)
"Exul" is a survivor album. It owes its release only to the faith and tenacity of Ne Obliviscaris, who almost disappeared with the pandemic. Started in 2020 just before Covid, the fourth opus of the Australian band has suffered the full force of successive confinements. With a guitarist in France, a bassist in Italy (both confined to their respective countries) and the rest of the sextet under house arrest in a Melbourne with no open recording studio, Ne Obliviscaris came close to not recovering, especially financially. To say that the making of "Exul" left deep scars is an understatement. Drummer Dan Presland announced his departure from the band almost at the same time as the official announcement of the release of this new album. However, "Exul" is not a swan song. On the contrary, it is the testimony of an impressive collaborative work at the service of a flawless musical requirement.

Complex structures, sophisticated compositions, technical precision, all the characteristics of Ne Obliviscaris' progressive and melodic death metal are at work to make this new album the fourth chapter of a flawless discography. The magnificent 'Equus' that opens 'Exul' is in the same vein as 'Urn'. The drums multiply the blasts beats and the rhythmic breaks, the marriage between Tim Charles' clear vocals and Xenoyr's saturated vocals works wonders, and the characteristic violin of the Australian band serves as a perfect melodic counterpoint to the power of the riffs. In short, Ne Obliviscaris does Ne Obliviscaris and it's always very impressive, both technically and conceptually.

However, as the tracks progress, perceptible changes in the Australians' musical approach are gradually felt. First of all, Tim Charles' violins are becoming more and more prominent. In four albums, they've become almost omnipresent, which is not without consequence on the balance of the tracks, some of which would have clearly deserved more concision ('Misericorde II - Anatomy Of Quiescence', 'Graal'). Secondly, the Australians' music has probably never been so dark. Tracks such as the ferocious and snarling 'Misericorde I - As The Flesh Falls' or the heavy and disturbing 'Suspyre' and 'Graal' are filled with an abysmal darkness and extreme rage, barely tempered by the melancholy strings.

With this deeply tormented album, Ne Obliviscaris' music loses some of its magic, but compensates with a formidable technical precision and a flawless production that does justice to the impressive work of each musician, in particular to Martino Garatonni's striking bass lines and Benjamin Baret's hyper-technical soli. But if "Exul" is a solid and perfectly mastered album, it remains to be seen how Ne Obliviscaris will evolve in the future in order to avoid going too much in circles.
- Official website
SIMILAR BANDS:
WINTERHORDE, OPETH, PERSEFONE, CYNIC

TRACK LISTING:
01. Equus - 12:13
02. Misericorde I - As the Flesh Falls - 7:33
03. Misericorde II - Anatomy of Quiescence - 9:22
04. Suspyre - 10:09
05. Graal - 8:53
06. Anhedonia - 3:43

LINEUP:
Benjamin Baret: Guitares
Dan Presland: Batterie
Martino Garattoni: Basse
Matt Klavins: Guitares
Tim Charles: Chant / Claviers / Violon, Chant Clair
Xen: Chant
   
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