Oubliette - Eternity Whispers (2024)^{Release ID: 52837}

For once, my Spotify algorithm doesn't dogpile with endless droves of AI generated music and the same three albums since 2015. Oubliette originate from Tennessee and are quite small in their reach, with only a couple thousand monthly listens. For the bands third album, Eternity Whispers, the atmospheric, melodic sound has been tampered with in favour of some more death metal tendencies. Even though I would consider them as primary touches to enhance the album, the black metal portions are exquisite. I really enjoy the melodies in the guitars and how they modulate from tremolo picking leads to arpeggiated post-metal breaks. They create an excellent change in timbre as the percussion acts much the same way. Some slower grooves, some heavy blast beats as well as passages where the drums aren't playing at all. The vocals sound good mostly, my one issue with Emily's singing is that it can be a mixed game where sometimes they sound pronounced and explicit, while others, such as on "Dreams of Nevermore" they can be pushed pretty far back in the hierarchy. The album has an instrumental ("Ember's Embrace") that features Ben Karas from Thank You Scientist, and the albums closer ("Vanish") has quite a progressive flare, leaving room for growth in the future. It also shows growth as an album, which is far more progressive than the Berklee jazz slop that Dream Theater releases these days. The record surely isn't without fault, but for a short, pleasant piece of melodic black metal, it's a great listen.

Best Songs: Primordial Echo, Consumed by the Void, Desolate Path, Ember's Embrace, Vanish