This sophomore effort followed
Hypocrisy
's strong debut,
Penetralia
, and featured even more brutal
death metal
from one of Sweden's finest practitioners of the genre.
Obsculum Obscenum
reveals a focused band building momentum while attempting to define a genre (or movement, really) that would dominate European
metal
for a decade.
simply shreds on this 1993
Nuclear Blast
recording, especially during highlights like
"Exclamation of a Necrofag"
and
"Attachment to the Ancestor."
treads dangerously close to
black metal
territory here with some over the top vocals and anti-religious lyrical sentiments, but overall, guitarist/bandleader
Peter Taegtgren
's attachment to the Florida
sound rings through, creating a fine Nordic
amalgam. Much more raw and some would say heavier than
's later releases featuring
Taegtgren
's subdued (by comparison) vocal work, this is an early career gem. As is true for most of this band's recordings, serious
fans should enjoy
's unapologetic commitment the Swedish
genre. ~ Vincent Jeffries