Mirrors of Obsidian - From One Form

Mirrors of Obsidian

From One Form

by Daniel 'Dan Disorder' Spizzirri at 11 September 2017, 1:25 AM

So I am greeted with an album cover that displays the impossibly vast expanse of the universe with a centred point of light, as if there is a warm, soothing kiss of dawn at the end of a cold and hostile distance. Is this a suggestion to the musical journey I am about to undertake? The band’s name, MIRRORS OF OBSIDIAN, contrasts perfectly to this; what has me so intrigued thus far is that I know I am in for something special with this album, but all of the usual flags of what genre or style I should expect are somewhat absent. I’ve always liked a little mystery, artists that can display, yet conceal, their motivations at the same time.

Then in a flash of supernova sound, the album, “From One Form”, begins; MIRRORS OF OBSIDIAN immediately seize the listener with the coils of extreme metal and the chaotic intricacies of technical progressive metal. The sound is crisp, clear, and precise; the instruments all have a pronounced individual presence, in every song that really makes the tracks leap from the speakers. It’s as if an arsenal of mechanical limbs are manipulating the dark guilty pleasures of your heart and mind like a puppeteer, all the while the commanding vocals highlight the enormity of the sound with a rasping, clenched teeth aggressiveness and poignantly delivers softer and cleaner singing moments at the right times.

I have to confirm that there is a clear ferocious intention in the delivery of this album, but there are strategically placed moments were the instruments and vocals veer the listener to another plateau and keep the heaviness and intensity from a point of getting boring. If I had to pick the best of the eight tracks it would be “Neutral Disease”, “The Core”, “Blood and Chrome”, and “Lightwaves”.

From what I have read, MIRRORS OF OBSIDIAN was a studio project that first manifested in 2009 in Dublin Ireland from two brothers who independently released their debut, “Imminent Chaos Complete”, in 2010. After a bit of a hiatus, they have returned with the album, “From One Form”, in 2017 and are in the process of putting together a full line up to become a touring band. I enthusiastically welcome this move; this is a fantastic release. If extreme and experimental sound is your thing, then this is right up your alley; if that kind of thing is new to you… then this just may be the best starting point. While not a “perfect” album, I must give it absolute top marks! You have to hear this, it’s good with moments of brilliance.

Song Writing: 9
Originality: 9
Memorability: 9
Production: 9