REVOCATION — Empire of the Obscene (review)

REVOCATION — Empire of the Obscene album cover Album · 2008 · Technical Thrash Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
UMUR
Empire of the Obscene is the debut full-length studio album by American ( Boston, Massachusetts) death/ thrash metal act Revocation. The band released the Summon the Spawn EP in 2006, but this is their debut album. Empire of the Obscene was originally self-released but has since be re-released by Relapse Records.

The music on the Empire of the Obscene is aggressive death/ thrash. Pretty technical but without ever putting technical playing before power. The music is certainly powerful and edgy but also feature lots of melodic content. When Revocation sound most old school I´m reminded of one of my old favorites in Demolition Hammer, but it´s only a part of the band´s sound that points in that direction. The sound is overall a bit more modern than the nineties death/ thrash sound of Demolition Hammer and there are minor nods toward metalcore and deathcore ( remember I said minor) but the melodic Swedish death metal sound is also not a stranger to these guys. The vocals need a special mention here as they are the kind of rabid dog sneer that I enjoy a lot. Think Jeff Walker ( Carcass) or Steve Reynolds ( Demolition Hammer) with a hardcore edge. The musicianship is overall excellent. Powerful precision playing. If I have to make one complaint about the album it will be that it´s too long with its 55:48 minutes playing time. A 40 minute album in this style would have packed more punch if you ask me. My mind tend to drift about half way through the album.

The production on the album is powerful and professional. I especially appreciate the drum sound. Pretty impressive for a self-released album.

Empire of the Obscene is no revelation but when the album is best its like a kick in the face. Aggressive and intense. It´s not that I don´t enjoy melody, but I actually think the music on this album has its forces when it´s most aggressive and non-melodic. I guess it´s an aquired taste.
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