Review: “The End Takes Form” by Obstruktion

Comprised of an army of battle scarred veterans of the Gothenburg Hardcore scene, Obstruktion first appeared on the scene in 2021 when they unveiled their debut album “Monarchs of Decay“. Channelling their furious energy in primal and uncompromising fashion, that record crosses the brutality of Death Metal with the intensity of Hardcore while leaving no stone unturned in pursuit of all things heavy. Exploring humanity’s violent nature, our fragile mortality, and the chaos of existence, they are said to build on those foundations with their sophomore album with eerie atmospherics. Recorded by Ragnar Östberg at East Hill Audio in Höör, Sweden before being mixed by Joe Clayton (Conjurer, Dawn Walker, Ithaca) at No Studio in Manchester, England and mastered by Ulf Blomberg (First In Line, Dishumanitär, Pantokrator) at HoboRec, Skurup, Sweden, this one is called “The End Takes Form“…

Jonas Nordström spits his venomous vocals over headbangable Metallic Hardcore riffs as the album title track “The End Takes Form” opens the record like Zeus taking a crowbar to Pandora’s box. A vicious little ditty that is abrasive rather than sharp, it sets the tone for a blunt force trauma to the back of the skull before  “Death Comes Near” ushers in “Satisfaction Is The Death Of Desire” era Hatebreed vibes. Punchy and aggressive, this one gets the blood pumping before Toni Haase gets a fleeting bass solo in the mid section. A cleverly worked moment it makes for a churn ‘n burn grand finale with a gang chant for good measure. Death comes calling in “The Final Hour” but drummer William Sjöberg is in no mood to go quietly, hammering his way out of the corner with style and grace before an almost tribal fill leads to a groove laden finale of classic 90’s style Metallic Hardcore. If you’re not throwing yourself around the room like an idiot at this point (or busted your toe open on the coffee table in over excitement) then it’s time to quit while you’re ahead. That’s because “Sow Fear” not only continues the vibe but welcomes in a smattering of blast beats and waves of sinister atmosphere to create something that the edge of the seat was made for. The battery acid nausea of tension is one you could cut with the bluntest of knives, the delicate lead guitar over the mid section is of dark beauty, reflecting the cathartic descent into despair of the lyrical narrative perfectly.

Nordström mixes up his vocals with a few death growls added to his usual shrill bark on “Machinery Of Delusion“, a track that splits the album clean in half like a hatchet to the skull. Once again the mosh part comes in the final third, a predictable yet perfectly placed passage when it comes to this collection of tracks. Like in the Final Destination series, you can see death coming but you’re not quite sure when its going to strike and here, on the first few spins at least, that gives this record a different edge. A cut that surpasses the four minute mark is usually reserved as the longest of a Hardcore record but in the case of “Grotesque Order” that’s simply not the case. Pummelling percussive battery and a rumbling bass line fuel a sense of impending doom created with eerie atmospherics that make the stomach churn… before a sweeping breakdown passage annihilates all in its path from the mid-section onwards. It’s like the band created a song with a wall of death in mind, getting the message across before letting the two sides charge head long across the room at each other.

Another tribal drum pattern rises up from the black depths in the mid section of “Touched By The Void“, the harrowing lyrical narrative accompanied by another concrete slab of cathartic Hardcore. It may not be the most brutal track of this collection by any means but it has a sprinkling of stardust on it that makes it stand out for all the right reasons. Dark and visceral, it might feel like there is no escape but as harrowing and bleak as the lyrics are, the soundtrack they are written to accompany is equally crushing. That vicious assault on the senses only serves to pave the way for another in “Only In Death“, a track that unleashes the winds of plague with its bombastic bass and eclectic solo. Nordström roars about humanity being a lost cause that will find redemption in their coffins, his harsh words reflecting the bitter truth. Three minutes of build up make way for some razor sharp riffs as the ten minute surpassing “Born Of Contempt” unfurls its wings and takes to flight. A brute of a track with a brooding mid second, it slaps humanity full in the face for what we do to mother earth, choosing a quick fix and ignoring the long term consequences. Someone needs to build a boat quick, a tidal wave of blood has been summoned by Obstruktion to wash this World clean… [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. The End Takes Form
2. Death Comes Near
3. The Final Hour
4. Sow Fear
5. Machinery Of Delusion
6. Grotesque Order
7. Touched By The Void
8. Only In Death
9. Born Of Contempt

“The End Takes Form” by Obstruktion is out 30th May 2025 via Suicide Records and is available over at bandcamp.