| On their fourth full-length, Tenebris Obortis, German black metal veterans Pest present a raw, determined vision that walks the line between aggression and introspection. Active since 1997, Pest have long marched to the beat of their own war drum, and this record is no exception—delivering a blend of cold, muscular black metal tinged with eerie atmospheres and subtle experimentation.
What sets Pest apart is their ability to craft music that is simultaneously forceful and strange. The riffs are thick and deliberate, with a gritty edge that leans toward traditional second-wave fury, but they’re not afraid to slow the tempo or veer into unexpected territory. Tracks like “Wasteland” drift into long, meditative territory à la Burzum, while others such as “Decontamination” or “Riding the Storms” lash out with frantic thrash and death metal urgency. It's this refusal to be boxed into one stylistic corner that keeps the album feeling alive.
Mr. Blasphemy’s vocal performance deserves particular praise. His delivery is dynamic and character-rich—far from the one-note rasps common in the genre. Whether snarling over breakneck riffs or brooding through atmospheric sections, he brings a theatricality that ties the album’s diverse elements together.
Though Tenebris Obortis doesn’t always feel like a unified whole—it plays more like a mosaic of influences than a single-minded statement—it never loses its grip. The lo-fi yet warm production allows each element room to breathe, and there’s a genuine passion here that many more polished efforts lack.
Pest might not be aiming for mass appeal, but for those seeking a rugged, individualistic strain of black metal—one that respects tradition while refusing to be defined by it—Tenebris Obortis is a rewarding and surprisingly nuanced listen.
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