UMUR
"Animate//Isolate" is the debut full-length studio album by US death/thrash metal act Obsolete. The album was released through Unspeakable Axe Records in April 2021. It´s the follow-up release to the 2018 "The Rumored Death of Atlas" EP, which was the band´s first release.
The 9 tracks on the 35:11 minutes long album feature a technical death/thrash metal style. Sometimes leaning more towards the thrash metal side of things and sometimes leaning more towards death metal. It´s not a clear cut case. I also hear the occasional nod towards black metal and also some vintage speed/heavy metal riffs. So this is a combination of many stylistic elements. The vocals are predominantly raw and snarling. The tracks are relatively technical in execution and the song structures are a little more challenging than your regular vers/chorus based songwriting formula.
"Animate//Isolate" features a well sounding and powerful production job, and the musicianship is high throughout, so upon conclusion it´s a high quality debut release by Obsolete. A few more memorable moments and more focus on cathiness could have elevated the album to an even higher level, but it´s still a release worthy of a 3.5 star (70%) rating.
