UMUR "Emerging" is the debut full-length studio album by Dutch metal act Obsidian. The album was originally self-released in May 2006 but it was subsequently picked up by Rusty Cage Records for a 2007 label release. The two versions differ a bit from each other as the vocal tracks by original vocalist Serge Regoor were re-recorded by new vocalist Robbe Kok for the 2007 version. In addition to featuring new vocal tracks, the Rusty Cage Records version was also remastered.

The music is technical extreme metal with deep growling vocals. The vocals and the slow parts of the music are reminiscent of Opeth, the mid-paced riffs are reminiscent of Meshuggah and the faster parts are reminiscent of Soilwork and their ilk. Obsidian´s music might not be the most original combination of stylistic elements but their playing abilities are way above average and their music is of a relatively high quality despite the obvious influences, which are worn a bit too much on the sleeve.

As mentioned above one of the greatest assets on "Emerging" is the stellar musicianship. Time signature changes, tempo changes, and high class instrumental performances are what we are treated to on the album. The vocals are pretty standard for the genre, but they get the job done.

The sound production is generally of good quality and helps to bring out the best in the music. I have a slight issue with the acoustic parts though as they sound a bit underproduced to my ears. Overall "Emerging" is a good release by Obsidian. It´s not spectacular and you probably won´t be surprised by what you hear, but it´s solid and enjoyable. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

UMUR Point of Infinity is the 2nd full-length studio album by Dutch death metal act Obsidian. The album was released in October 2010 by Candlelight Records.

The music on the album is technically well played death metal with progressive leanings. The vocals vary between growls/ harsh vocals and clean type vocals. Acts like Meshuggah and especially Textures come to mind albeit with a death metal edge. The riffing is angular and at times odd-metered but generally simpler than the riffing by the above mentioned acts. The musicianship is on a very high level and the production is also of good quality and that´s some of the greatest assets of the album.

While the description above sounds like this is the kind of album that I would really enjoy, there are a couple of issues, that prevents me from fully enjoying Point of Infinity. First of all Robbe Kok isn´t the most interesting singer and especially his clean vocals leave much to be desired, so there´s an issue with the vocals ( and the vocal lines) if you ask me. The quality of songwriting isn´t really on par with the output of the best acts who play similar music either and overall the album unfortunately comes off a bit mediocre and maybe even worse lacking memorable moments. A 2.5 - 3 star rating is warranted.

J-Man Point of Infinity

There are a LOT of progressive death metal bands making albums each year. It's actually almost a headache-inducing number. No human being can possibly listen to every one of these such albums, so making a successful album in this crowded genre can be quite a challenge. Dutch prog death metal quintet Obsidian's newest release falls into the category of "worth hearing, but non-essential". Point of Infinity is a very competent album, but doesn't do much to stand out in the genre. This has most of the genre cliches and typical sound characteristics, but these guys still manage to make an album that's highly enjoyable. Though this is by no means essential, it comes recommended to fans of modern prog death metal.

The music played on Point of Infinity is progressive death metal, with more of an emphasis on technicality. The main influence I hear on the album is Meshuggah, although there are also distinct Opeth and Edge of Sanity influences in the more melodic sections. The music is generally strong, and I enjoy the entire the album during the entire 45 minute duration. The album rarely reaches the excellent mark, but the entire album is consistent and enjoyable. Songs like Tidal Waves, Point of Infinity, and the instrumental Spectral Pathways are especially noteworthy. One of the best things about Point of Infinity, however, is the very impressive musicianship. This is a highly proficient group who never sacrifices melody for technicality. Every musician in Obsidian is a joy to listen to.

The production is raw, but very fitting for the music. A little bit more polish may have been nice, but Point of Infinity still sounds great in its current state.

Conclusion:

If you like progressive death metal, and aren't looking for anything incredibly original, this is a solid album worth checking out. Since Point of Infinity isn't too far above average, I'm going to go with 3 stars on this album. If Obsidian can develop a more original sound in the future, I could see them becoming a leading modern progressive death metal act. They definitely have the chops to be with the best of the best.