Obsidian Mantra’s As We All Will is an absolute banger, an uncompromising masterpiece in the death metal landscape that carves out its own space with a crushing blend of technical mastery, relentless intensity, and brooding atmosphere. This album captures what makes death metal timeless while defying its conventions, refusing to indulge in easy hooks or predictable melodies. Instead, Obsidian Mantra embraces the genre’s darker edges and elevates them with thrilling and cerebral precision and complexity. This Polish band has delivered a work that combines groove-heavy technicality with shadowy black metal ambiance, resulting in a richly layered listening experience. The guitar work here is unapologetically aggressive, churning out riffs that hit with the force of a wrecking ball while weaving in melodic undertones that create a haunting, almost cinematic effect. Obsidian Mantra’s riffs aren’t just heavy, they’re carefully crafted, layered with shifting patterns that evoke many emotions. There’s a level of technical complexity in the guitar lines that takes this beyond standard death metal fare, adding impressive precision to each shred. It’s clear that each riff is intentionally structured, creating moments of tension and release that feels visceral, almost as if the music itself is alive, resulting in a sound that is as ferocious as it is atmospheric.
The basslines add depth and body to the album’s sound, supporting the relentless guitar work with a solid and dynamic low-end presence. Rather than simply mirroring the guitar riffs, the basslines take on a life of their own, adding intricate counterpoints that give the music a layered, multi-dimensional feel. There’s an interplay here that reveals itself over repeated listens, with the bass providing a subtle but essential melodic foundation beneath the album’s otherwise stormy surface. This approach adds weight and fluidity to each track, allowing the music to breathe and giving it an almost hypnotic undercurrent. It’s a grounding force that not only enhances the guitar but also complements the atmospheric elements, creating a powerful sonic foundation that lends an otherworldly quality to the album’s darkest passages. The drumming on this album is nothing short of outstanding, propelling As We All Will to new heights with a performance that is equal parts controlled fury and calculated chaos. From lightning-fast blast beats to relentless double bass drums, the drumming here is a sheer mastery of technique and endurance. Yet what truly sets it apart is the rhythmic diversity, it’s not all speed and aggression. The drummer employs half-time breaks, syncopated beats, and complex fills to create a dynamic ebb and flow that keeps each track fresh and engaging. The transitions are seamless, shifting from brutal intensity to moments of restrained power that build tension before plunging back into full-throttle madness. This rhythmic intricacy gives the album its sense of momentum and drama, making each moment feel purposeful, as though it’s driving toward something darker and deeper.
Vocally, As We All Will is a brutal showcase of controlled aggression. The lead vocals are guttural and raw, yet there’s an almost melodic undertone that makes them stand out amidst the relentless instrumentation. This isn’t just a one-note growl, the vocalist modulates intensity and pitch to create layers of vocal texture, adding depth to the album’s already rich atmosphere. The delivery is fierce and unrelenting, evoking the primal intensity of classic death metal while adding a sinister nuance that’s reminiscent of black metal’s haunting aesthetic. It’s a performance that commands attention, pulling the listener into the dark narrative without ever letting go. The vocal lines are an integral part of the emotional landscape, conveying both rage and despair in equal measure, and giving the album a voice that feels as integral as any of its instruments. Thematically, As We All Will delves into the bleak and the profound, touching on existential themes without veering into pretentious territory. The album’s lyrical content feels reflective of the world’s darker truths, grappling with concepts of mortality, despair, and the inevitability of change. Yet, rather than wallowing in darkness, the music feels almost defiant, as if confronting these themes head-on with a kind of somber acceptance. The mood created by the instrumentation supports this thematic weight, with melodic lines that are shadowed and unsettling, adding layers of complexity to the album’s heavy subject matter. It’s a cathartic exploration, channeling negativity into a relentless force that feels powerful rather than nihilistic.
Despite its technical demands, As We All Will is more than just a display of skill. Obsidian Mantra’s ability to blend groove-centric rhythms with blackened atmospherics results in a cohesive and deeply immersive sound. The production quality balances clarity and grit, allowing the technical intricacies to shine without losing the raw energy that makes the album so compelling. The mix is rich and full, with each instrument occupying its own space, creating an enveloping dense, precise wall of sound. This attention to sonic detail ensures that every blast beat, every riff, and every bassline lands with maximum impact, pulling the listener deeper into the music’s dense and unyielding world. Obsidian Mantra’s As We All Will demands your attention. With a blend of technical death metal proficiency and haunting black metal atmosphere, the band has crafted a brutal and beautiful work. This isn’t an album that offers easy accessibility, it’s a record that invites you into its depths, rewarding those who are willing to immerse themselves in its complexity. It’s an intense, intricately crafted work that stays true to the genre’s roots while pushing its boundaries, a sheer example to Obsidian Mantra’s skill and vision.
Thoughts Words Action 