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Obsidian Hooves have unleashed a harrowing force with their debut full-length album, Morbidity, released via Morbid Chapel Records. Hailing from California and Mississippi, this duo delivers a crushing display of cavernous death metal that drips with decay and intensity across eight sprawling tracks clocking in at nearly 58 minutes. With influences rooted in the seminal works of Incantation, Disma, and Disciples of Mockery, the band conjures a sound that is as suffocating as it is ferocious.
The guitar work is a standout feature, offering a seamless blend of raw, heavy riffs and bursts of chaotic, schizophrenic solos. The tone is filthy yet precise, creating an atmosphere that feels both oppressive and electrifying. This signature approach echoes the bleak and doomy stylings of classic death metal while injecting a modern edge. The vocals, delivered with guttural depth and unrelenting power, enhance the album’s grim aesthetic, channeling themes of sickness, gore, and blasphemy with palpable conviction.
Rhythmically, Morbidity strikes a balance between plodding, claustrophobic sections and explosive bursts of speed. While the drumming may not aim for technical flashiness, it anchors the album’s dense compositions with a primal ferocity that perfectly complements the overarching atmosphere. Tracks like the near-17-minute closer “Vile Repulsion” demonstrate the band’s ability to craft sprawling epics that oscillate between eerie, doomy passages and moments of blistering aggression, keeping listeners hooked throughout.
Obsidian Hooves have delivered a masterclass in dissonant, old-school American death metal, staying true to their roots while carving out their unique space in the underground. Morbidity is a must-listen for fans of raw, unpolished death metal with a penchant for the macabre. This release firmly establishes the duo as a force to be reckoned with, making it an essential addition to any extreme metal collection.
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