Obsidian Mantra – As We All Will

Obsidian Mantra is a death metal band from Greater Poland, founded in 2014. Recently renewed band’s line-up consists of; Kacper Kajzderski (vocals & bass), Mateusz Witan (guitars) and Mateusz Wróbel (drums). Released just a couple of months ago (as a follow-up to their 2020 sophomore album, Minds Led Astray), As We All Will is their third full-length instalment, containing eight tracks where this trio successfully combines groove-centric, technical riffs with hazy black metal motifs. Thus, this latest opus laso marks another step in the musical evolution of the band, by expanding of their trademark sound, weaving aggression and uncompromising heaviness with dissonance, while mantaining and developing the atmospheric and progressive side of their sound.

No gimmicks, no-unnecessary catchy choruses and radio friendly melodies – as they stay true to their old-school death metal roots, while at the same time exploring and developing the atmosphere and expanding progressive sound landscapes. Even to times when they add a bit of melody, it’s with a dissonant approach. However, this doesn’t mean that they don’t experiment, but these experimental parts are still within the framework of an old-school death metal.

Vocals of Kacper Kajzderski sound powerful, authoritative and with a ‘controlled aggression’. Convincing lead vocals are guttural and raw, yet with this almost melodic undertone. He definitely exposes his ability to vary his vocals by continuously adding different layers of vocal texture. The guitar work of Mateusz Witan is unapologetically aggressive, but with a nuanced riffing that is perfectly executed. One can hear and sense a high level of precision and technical complexity in the guitar lines, something we don’t expect to hear on a ‘typical’ death metal record. The basslines of the above-mentioned Kacper Kajzderski add depth and body to the album’s sound, displaying a great interplay with the guitars. Last but not least, the drumming of Mateusz Wróbel is nothing short of outstanding; being unrelenting and with numerous blastbeats, but also with some variation and some minimalistic parts.

From band’s press statement, I see that the lyrical content on As We All Will confronts the existential realities of human existence. Furthermore ‘…it explores the inevitability of suffering, the universality of fear and weakness, and the necessity of facing the vast, indifferent universe as an individual and overcoming oneself’. The cover art on As We All Will may not scream ‘death metal’, but it’s still haunting and dark, fitting perfectly with the lyrical content inside. The mix is rich and full and production is very pleasant for listening, allowing the technical intricacies to shine through.

With the release of As We All Will, Obsidian Mantra delivers another haunting and thought-provoking (in the terms of lyrics) album, where they’re further developing their sound, but still staying true to their roots and musical identity, firmly rooted in old-school death metal. There’re standout tracks that I have to mention here. First one (or album’s third track to be more accurate) is the one titled, “Slave Without a Master”, mainly due to its strong vocal performance, bone-crushing and razor-sharp riffing, and its interplay with rumbling bass- and savage drum-beating. Another great song worth highlighting here is the closing one, a grand finale called, “Weavers of Misery”. It’s a great onslaught of riffs and a thundering and pummeling drumming that is nothing short of spectacular.

It is simple, powerful, and very effective death metal release, that will please all fans of Behemoth, Decapitated, Vader, Hate, Belphegor, but equally recommended to all fans of serious head-banging death metal sonic assault.

For more information on this third instalment from this Polish trio, go to https://obsidianmantra.bandcamp.com/album/as-we-all-will