Transcendence - Towards Obscurities Beyond

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During the 80’s, Metal came to be a commercial success in the USA, so it’s no surprise to see as the underground genres evolved there. But Death Metal and its musical ways are still a force on the underground, but never gathering enough attention for breaking the boundaries of mainstream. There are many names on extreme scene on USA, and not only on Tampa (Florida). A fine example can be heard on “Towards Obscurities Beyond”, the first album of the Los Angeles based quintet TRANSCENDENCE.

Although the crude approach used by the band, their musical work can be faced as a form of North American Old School Death Metal mixed with some influences from Thrash/Black Metal from Germany (due the melodies used on the guitars and the snarls on the vocals). It’s not a usual way, and besides they have to mature in terms of arrangements, the quintet is on the right way, creating something brutal and full of energy.

The sound quality is the only sin committed by the band on “Towards Obscurities Beyond”. It’s too crude and sounds a bit hollow in some moments due the need to sound organic as old albums from the past. But their music demands something cleaner and defined to be expressed in a better way, and a set of more aggressive tunes on the musical instruments would be great as well on the next album. It’s not a complete loss, but be better.

“Infernal Resurrection” (a song filled with contrasts from bitter slow moments with some faster parts, and from guttural voices to snarling tunes), “Majesty of Chaos” (this one has a total Old School Black Metal outfit in some moments, especially due the strength of the guitars), “Towards Obscurities Beyond” (a morbid song, with some nasty and funereal ambiences, with very good bass guitar and drums parts), “And Darkness Shall Be” (another very good set of rhythmic contrasts), and “In Silent Procession” are songs that reveal how good they are, and promising is their musical work.

Just evolving a bit more, and working with a better sound quality, and no one will resist to TRANSCENDENCE’s music. For now, “Towards Obscurities Beyond” is a fine first album.

Songwriting: 8
Musicianship: 8
Memorability: 6
Production: 5