Review by UnhinderedbyTalent for Obscure Sphinx - Epitaphs (2016)

I have been toiling with Epitaphs for a couple of weeks now. Drawn by the combination of the ethereal post-metal sections alongside the chunky sludge riffing, the album did a great job from the off in terms of conveying the fathomless depths of sorrow whilst also successfully iterating the harsher realities of pain. Ironically it has been this combination of styles that has led me to take so long writing this review. For the most part they work well in creating both present space as well as at the same time filling the space yet to come. However, there are times when the song structures just have an air of predictability about them and as a result the album comes off as having a lack of ideas around transitions.

More on that later though as I would like to concentrate on the positive in the first instance. Vocalist Zofia Fraś is top of the shop in this section. Possessing a voice that could never be described as serene (not by my ears at least), she instead carries a volatile power in her voice that does not always rely on the softer edges you would associate with post-metal. Often, she simply adopts tuneful yet not overly precious tone to her vocals in the slower sections, even deploying simple chants for the first part of Memories of Falling Down. In the heavier sections she chooses a heavier but not guttural style that provides aridity almost without ever coming across as sounding brittle. She is clearly supported by some excellent musicians, all of whom can play and are afforded lots of clarity in the mix also. The rhythm and percussion sections all have a chunky feel to them with the riffs often reverberating off the bass lines nicely whilst the busy but not at all intrusive drums land an assured footprint across proceedings.

Obscure Sphinx clearly have a connection going on throughout the band and their music reflects this depth of mutual respect with each of the component parts being allowed a real sense of presence but never at the expense of anything else. That having been said, there is still a little bit of work to be done to ensure that this marriage of styles sits a little more comfortably alongside one another. I would argue that there are tracks here that do not necessarily need a combination of post-metal and sludge with some of this clunkiness also being down to things just running a bit too long in some regards. As an overall album, fifty-seven minutes feels a little bloated and the previously mentioned Memories of Falling Down arguably could have done with a trim. In terms of consistency, it is the middle three tracks here (Nieprawota, Memorare and Sepulchre) that linger better on the ear as shorter tracks that just seem to choose a direction and get on with it.

I am still impressed by Epitaphs though, even taking into consideration my struggles, as it is an album with a depth that needs a few visits to it to really get to know the space in more detail. With strong Neurosis, Cult of Luna and Isis vibes going on, these Poles have quite a kit bag with them already. It just needs a bit more accomplishment and better arrangement (two opening tracks more than thirteen and twelve minutes respectively is a tough starting point) but I have every belief they will get there sooner rather than later.