Requiem For Oblivion
Erie, Pennsylvania, United States | SELF
Music
Press
With just a few tracks to their rather unsnappy name, duo Requiem For Oblivion are nonetheless shaping up to be a fine addition to the Prog Metal landscape. They have an original sound that takes influences from several sources, notably the acoustic dramatics of Agalloch and the heavy, crushing power of Opeth, but the band doesn't really sound like either of those after a while, being closer to a mixture of Alice In Chains and Cynic - the depressive pound of the former and the speedy technicality of the latter. It's hard to really sum the band up at all - they're truly out-there and original, and truth be told feel rather messy at times, like they've tried to fit too many ideas together at once without quite knowing what they want the outcome to be, or without fitting the ideas into conventional song structures.
Still, what the band do, they do damn well. The acoustic atmospherics of opener Sorrow's Eve soon switches to heavy dramatics on the suitably-titled Ominous, snarls and backing clean vocals riding over a mixture of diverse riffs and Jazzy melodies that never stand still. It's a great sound for the band, held back a little by the poor production, but you'll probably be well and truly in love by the time you've got to the excellent The Release, opening with acoustic guitars before jumping into a complex post-sludge morass, riffing and dreamy clean vocals that could have come from a particularly drug-fuelled Stoner band. I've read criticisms of the band's vocals elsewhere, but I really can't hear anything that wouldn't be improved by the natural leap from demo to EP or full-length-level quality. Illuminata closes the demo, taking a slightly quieter and more nervous sound than the tracks before.
All in all, there's a great deal of promise shown here, and given that this is just a demo Requiem For Oblivion seem sure to impress even more in the future.
- Metal Reviews
REQUIEM FOR OBLIVION - Funeral For Futility – stoner metal for the millennium. Darker, deeper and held back a notch inviting you to chill out until you hit Ominous… no holds bared, brings on ancient flash-backs of time immemorial. This is ‘hybrid metal’. Intriguing experimental insanity.
- Star Trucker
As you first listen to track number one on this self titled release, you expect some good old Progressive Metal, but as the album progresses you are headed for an acid trip similar to something out of a David Lynch movie.
The band's style is a very peculiar mix of Progressive Metal and some Ambient elements, as well as some weird vocals. The band self claims to be heavily influenced by Rush, Dream Theater, Katatonia among others, and that is not completely far out.
As I mention the vocals in my opinion are not up to the standard set by the rest of the music, they are very weak attempts at growls or shrieks (who knows!). However this is not enough reason to completely discard this band, since the music is pure genius.
Requiem For Oblivion transitions within musical genres in seconds and the whole song takes a new dimension, this happens most songs of this EP. And this is the biggest reason I like this band, it's unpredictable, but it never decreases in quality. If they could just find a better singer they would be way better.
The Progressive elements in the music are the main structure behind this band's sound and they are very well crafted and executed, they never sound like a direct rip-off of any band, something very rare in all the progressive outfits these days that are trying to copy DT or any other band.
You can clearly find some intriguing musical compositions in these few songs, and the layering of elements is very creative and interesting. I see great promise in this band if they work more at polishing their sound a bit better; also a change in vocals is greatly needed to improve the overall quality of the band.
If you are looking for something out of the ordinary, but still melodic and well crafted, give Requiem For Oblivion a try. Hopefully this band keeps up the good work, adds a new vocalist and comes back with another ass-kicking release.
- Dark Emperor
Discography
Self Released Demo (2009)
Photos
Bio
Project started by Steve Jacobson, former guitarist and co-founder of the Nor Cal Death Metal Band, Forsake the Flesh. Steve previously played with another metal band Influence the Weak, also from Northern California. Steve moved to Erie, PA in 2007, which gave him the opportunity to start work on his own project that has been brewing for years. REQUIEM FOR OBLIVION is a 'hybrid metal' concept project/CD based on his years struggling with inner demons (i.e. drugs, booze, depression, self-destruction in almost every form) and the years since silencing those demons... Helping him with the recording process and the first to join the "live" version of RFO is drummer Mike Bryan, who ironically, moved to Erie from Reno just a month prior to Steve moving there. Mike previously played for post punk band The Turbine Saints and the rock band Primate Envy, both out of California. Through a twist of fate, they were put together and have been working on completing the demo with a full length to be released at the end of 2010. Completing the trio is guitarist and Erie native, TJ Hinman, a self taught guitarist with roots in Jazz and music theory, who also plays the bass, mandolin and piano. TJ has played with: The Down Beatles, Maximum Carnage, The Dartnell Jazz Experience, and his current side project Funa-yurei. Together, the trio’s mix of ambient, progressive metal provide their audience with a dynamic musical experience reminiscent of Opeth, Agalloch, Daylight Dies and My Dying Bride. In addition, there are some acoustic steel and classical string sequences as well. Mostly ghostly, clean vocals with some guttural moments from time to time. RFO has played live with regional acts such as Mushroomhead, Ventana, Scars of Ruin and Scarwork. Plus, the band regularly plays acoustic versions of their songs at many of the local venues around the Erie area.
Links
