Oubliette – Eternity Whispers
Release Date: 7th June 2024
Label: The Artisan Era
Bandcamp
Genre: Melodic Death Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Atmospheric Black Metal.
FFO: Moonlight Sorcery, Dark Tranquillity, Kvaen, Insomnium, Majesties.
Review By: Rick Farley
Tennessee based melodic and blackened death metal sextet Oubliette has released album number three, Eternity Whispers, via The Artisan Era on June 7th, 2024. With a potent mixture of ferocious tremolo guitars, wicked solos and loads of searing melody, the band has concocted an invigorated dose of sonic darkness that equally borders melodic death metal and black metal’s aggressiveness, and deep, haunting atmosphere.
Formed in 2011 by husband and wife duo Mike Low (guitars, synths) and Emily Low (vocals), the project became a full band with their debut full length album, Apparitions in 2014. Their sophomore release The Passage was unleashed in 2018 and after a long writing and recording period, we are gifted to Eternity Whispers, which is the bands most mature sounding and infectious record to date.
Joined by Andrew Wampler (guitar, mandolin, backing vocals), Chris Austin (guitar, backing vocals), Cole Gerdeman (bass), and Spencer Moore (drums), Oubliette is a maelstrom of triple guitar attacks, creating a luscious extreme metal airiness, intertwined with a low ended, pounding rhythm section and vicious growling, snarling vocals from Emily. Her voice seems a smidge low in the mix, but there is no denying that she is easily one of the genre’s best.
Sitting at seven songs, thirty-nine minutes, Eternity Whispers is near perfect in length, rarely letting up intensity for its entirety, but also never overstaying its welcome. This vibrant record cruises by in a hail of blast beats and energetic, melodic guitar driven passages soaring over rich atmospherics. Cosmic movements of synths enrich the already spacious soundscape, bringing just enough tranquil emotion to the furiosity of the tracks. Primordial Echo kicks things off with echoing gentle acoustics that fire into a near Swedeath vehemency. You can hear the Gothenburg colour shades on this track, but it clearly forms its own identity quickly. Like each track on Eternity Whispers,
they are not afraid to show their influences, never hiding from them, but also never relying solely on them. With Death’s Shadow is a perfect example, drawing influence from Dark Tranquillity, but presents it in small ambient flourishes and intertwines it with its own infernal brightness. Consumed by the Void is a nasty piece of melodic black metal ready to strike with its protruding devil horns. Icy darkness illuminates with flames bursting through the wintry night, while the embers quickly smoulder in frost.
There is no doubting the complex musicianship and compositional abilities of Oubliette. An achievement of sheer quality by way of superb songwriting and masterful execution. The type of record that is just really fucking good, but you cannot fully explain why. Soulful melodies cascade above bestial aggression, while familiarity accentuates the bands evolving growth. Fiery, haunting, and otherworldly atmosphere shrouds the record with its serpent like grip. Eternity Whispers is an intoxicating record that just feels authentic. This is something that I will return to, repeatedly. Do yourself a favour and check this out immediately.
(4.5 / 5)
