OBELYSKKH
THE PROVIDENCE (EXILE ON MAINSTREAM)
label:
EXILE ON MAINSTREAM
180g black Vinyl Download-Card Etching on D-Side Gatefold Lined Inner Sleeves Above all, you can believe in Providence in either of two ways, either as thirst believes in the orange, or as the ass believes in the whip." (Victor Hugo) Okay, this quote is meant to lead you astray.
Or not. Why? The title of OBELYSKKHs new effort in heaviness might remind you of H.P.Lovecrafts iconic poem and you're not wrong.
There's the inspiration for lyrical content and the artwork. But that's only one dimension.
The other is illustrated almost perfectly by our French revolutionist - the history of creation for the album holding in your hands.
After having delivered Hymn To Pan as their tird album not even one year after its predecessor White Lightnin' Franconian Doomsters OBELYSKKH found themselves in an emotional turmoil involving different private focusses and even a line up change with bass player Dirty Dave leaving and being replaced by Seb Duster who now has quite some parts in the songwriting process.
All these ups and downs alongside the quite massive honesty and emotionality in OBELYSKKHs routines lead to a monstrous pressure which is now sonically channeled into the new album.
And you can hear it: The Providence lives by pressure, groove and darkness - the album sees OBELYSKKH leaving huge parts of their former approach behind.
Less Psychedelic, more groove. No Stoner Rock but Doom par excellence - all shaped into a crushing maelstrom of utter heaviness.
The album starts with a groove-laden concrete ball rolling down your spine and when the clear, clean and dark vocals set in the direction is revealed: ritualistic, rough and punk'd out - after the first notes might remind you of the mighty OM it keeps going in a new, yet welcome direction - an OBELYSKKH leading the way.
Of course, parts are still there - the bridging leads sit enthroned on swarm-like riffage, vocals meander between cutting serenity and harsh shrieks, giving the music enough time to breathe and adding an unusual element - a battle call against mediocrity, loud, aggressive and in roaring manner, but rooted in a fearless presentation of something precise, something conceived.
The Providence was again recorded and mixed by Andy Naucke and mastered by the mighty Brad Boatright (Sleep, Tragedy, High On Fire, From Ashes Rise, Integrity among many others).