Review: “The Underworld Obscura” by Orelisk

“Plunge into the unseen undercurrents, the dark and hidden forces, that flow beneath this reality; eroding the guide stones that keep us from straying into the heart of darknes” ~ Orelisk

The desire to pay homage to the second-wave of Black Metal hordes of the early 1990s such as Darkthrone, Enslaved and Judas Iscariot was one that ran deep for multi instrumentalist and vocalist Orelisk and so in 2018 he began to create as a solo artist under his own pseudonym. Three years later, a demo was unveiled in 2021 titled “Mold“, featuring raw, warm production with darkness permeating each melodic arrangement. Stories of doomed nomads, ancient beasts and unhinged minds served as vessels for the bleak soundscapes. His prior convictions in Draudr (as Die Sueche), LanzerRath and formerly Undercroft had not been cast aside but used as foundations upon which to build with a sense of freedom, the focus upon creating something befitting of the genre of “True Northern Black Metal”. Two years on an album has been offered up in “The Underworld Obscura” that uses that blueprint…

The Scandinavian influences course through the veins of the works of Orelisk, his journey down the left hand path a whirlwind of tremolos and blast beats conjuring a perfect storm of Black Metal nostalgia. “Winter In Salem” begins the magnum opus with all the hallmarks you would expect, the warmer production meaning that the sound is slightly less raw than many of the older releases. Don’t mistake kindness for weakness however as the album still sounds like it was recorded in a basement torture chamber hell with the sound of the guitars and bass reverberating around the room. It benefits from the drum sound being a little cleaner and less murky but the record maintains all the charm of those original works without some of the pain. Melancholic moments bubble and rise to the surface, the one prior to a harsh spoken word moment in “The War Of Despair” is perfectly placed and well executed, allowing for a false ending to burst into flames. The orchestration used for those is spellbinding and surprisingly opulent given the raw nature of this burnt offering. It has been kept in keeping with the overall sound, adding a depth and texture hitherto unheard. “Only In Delirium I Can See” builds mournfully, the slow burn a trudge to self immolation before rising to a bloodthirsty scream accompanied by a galloping percussive passage soaked in heritage. Slowing to a dull ache, shoegazing qualities begin to arise once more, the mid section of the track depicting endless suffering before another bloodcurdling roar into the final onslaught makes for something undeniable.

After those melancholic meandering moments “Derelict House Of Desires” packs more punch in a swirling chaotic darkness, the razor sharp riffs creating death by a thousand tiny cuts as Orelisk spits, snarls and screams his way through the depth of the lyrical narrative like a wailing banshee possessed by the devil himself. It feels cathartic and real, the ability to play all of the instruments to such a high standard impressing greatly, particularly the drums because where others have turned to a session musician or a drum machine, here that is not the case. Each composition has been well thought out and executed to match the vision, the result being something of a French revolution with this collection of bloody beheadings. “Ruins As Subjective To The Ruined” continues the trend with another sublimely engineered false ending giving rise to a riff that is momentarily reminiscent of something from AC/DC before flying off into the fearless Black Metal of old. Brooding an sinister, the album title track “The Underworld Obscura” is an instrumental which conjures another dark and menacing atmospheric while sounding like something that belongs on a Robert Rodriguez film score. Something wicked this way comes, a feeling that is unescapable as vibrant leads create shafts of light through the dark storm clouds overhead. A powerful and moving instrumental wouldn’t usually be considered as a title track but here its perfect for the role, offering the promise of a dark new dawn in the time to come from Orelisk [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Winter In Salem
2. The War Of Despair
3. Only In Delirium I Can See
4. Derelict House Of Desires
5. Ruins As Subjective To The Ruined
6. The Underworld Obscura

“The Underworld Obscura” by Orelisk is out 31st June 2023 via Northern Spire Productions and is available over at bandcamp.