Review: “Led Into Oblivion” by Scordatura

“We started writing the music for ‘Led Into Oblivion’ in 2021 knowing what we wanted to refine from previous releases. This is definitely the most focused record we have done to date, we spent a long time arranging the music and lyrics to ensure it is concise and to the point, with any fat stripped away. ‘Led Into Oblivion’ explores the idea of humanity slowly marching to its own doom with increasing reliance on technology & artificial intelligence. Our good friend Malcolm Abbou (Heads On Pikes) handled the recording and mixing, with the master being done by Korentin Mens and we got the incredible Paolo Girardi to paint his interpretation of our lyrics with the finished result being my favourite artwork we have ever done with the amount of depth and detail he has included in it.” ~ Scordatura

When vocalist Daryl Boyce joining Slamming Brutal Death Metal outfit Party Cannon in 2024 there were a few who may have thought it was the death knell for Scottish Technical Death Metal purveyors Scordatura. However almost two decades of history including tours across Europe, America and Russia as well as twelve records is a lot to simply consign to memory, so for now at least they remain a growing concern.

It has of course been six long years since their last recorded confession, the well received “Mass Failure” considered a work of art and a portrait in gore in the four corners of the globe. Since then bassist Derek Wright has exited stage left, his replacement former Dominicide strings master Liam McCafferty, leaving drummer Tam Moran, guitarist Owen McKendrick and the aforementioned Boyce all firmly glued in place.

Recorded and mixed by Malcolm Abbou (Bathed in Sin, Human Abomination, Ovulating Cadaver), mastered by Korentin Mens (Gravefields, Near Death Experience, Wrath from Above) and adorned by artwork from Paolo Girardi (Ageless Summoning, Power Trip, Revocation), the forth studio album from Scordatura begins with “Doomed to Fate“, a palate cleansing introduction that sounds like a Soothsayer entering a drinking establishment to escape the pouring rain. That’s very much the calm before the storm as the quartet burst a blood vessel or two with the ripping title track “Led into Oblivion“, Moran whipping up a tornado of souls from behind the kit as the quartet sandblast the discerning listener with the wonderfully chaotic and yet surprisingly groove laden tune.

After that monument to misanthrope “Existential Termination” finds the band doubling down on the brutality, Boyce barking like a rabid dog. He has always had a seriously impressive vocal range but with this new material its like he has new found power, his Slam inspired demonic unclean moments as savage as they some. The other incredible thing is how the band have turned the bass into a second rhythm guitar and brought it forward in the mix to be more prominent. That means when there are staccato riff breaks you get this rumbling bleed out as the bass is for a few moments the only thing you can hear.

If the first two cuts were brutal then “Echoes of a Fractured Mind” reaches a new level of depravity, the rampaging buzzsaw riffs and insane double kick footwork slicing and dicing like a Samurai in feudal Japan. Sure there are a couple of riffs that have an air of familiarity to them but in this day and age, who hasn’t inadvertently borrowed from an influence? If anything it adds to the charm of the record with that instant air of familiarity giving it an edge. The menacing and sinister “Oppressed/Repressed” is yet another concrete slab to the skull with a fierce and frenzied riff attack counter balanced by an unhinged vocal with a lyrical narrative to match. It’s almost as if they’ve watched enough horror films to know whats coming next but are powerless to stop the inevitable from happening.

The 221 seconds that is “A Manic Indoctrination” makes for the longest cut on the record, the band slowing things down to build a brooding atmosphere with some throat shredding vocals and whammy bar insanity. The mid tempo crush was never going to last given the prowess of these musicians who break the chains that bind with some gang chants before switching to driving Death Groove. A leaner, meaner fighting machine with this record Scordatura pay homage to the 90’s Maryland Death Metal scene with “Retali(h)ate“, which is an absolute belter, the rhythmic insanity levels pitched perfectly to make some more of their influences obvious.

Just when the band appear to be slowing down they pull out another fire cracker in “When the Red Moon Hangs Low” which burns like wire. Razor sharp riffs fuel this sonic abrasion, the quartet opting for a short, sharp shock to grab the attention and its a move that pays of handsomely. You just can’t help but nod your head on the first listen, the tight rhythmic interplay between the instruments nailed to perfection.

The adrenaline is flowing like blood from the veins as “Maw of the Void” takes hold, the third of three back to back sub three minute cuts that absolutely slap. For this one the band bring back the Hardcore inspired gang chants although how they manage to shoehorn them in given how fast this sonic assault on the senses is comes as something of a mystery that even Mrs Marple couldn’t solve.

Returning to their roots “Begging to Die” is a grand finale that no one could have predicted as the band go hell for leather, putting the pedal to the metal and playing as fast as they can without derailing the train. The spoken word moment is a nice touch that is almost as infectious as the earworm main riff.

Not only is “Led Into Oblivion” worth the wait, it’s worth its weight… in gold! Sonically enthralling from start to finish with an engaging lyrical narrative, it’s got everything you might want and the kitchen sink! [9/10]

Track Listing

1. Doomed to Fate
2. Led into Oblivion
3. Existential Termination
4. Echoes of a Fractured Mind
5. Oppressed/Repressed
6. A Manic Indoctrination
7. Retali(h)ate
8. When the Red Moon Hangs Low
9. Maw of the Void
10. Begging to Die

“Led Into Oblivion” by Scordatura is out 19th June 2026 via Everlasting Spew Records and is available over at bandcamp.