From Bandcamp, “From its very beginnings in 2002, the German progressive death metal band OBSCURA has demonstrated an uncanny ability for blending different forms of technical, cerebral metal into a coherent synthesis of death, thrash and black metal merged with progressive elements.” Their newest album here, titled “A Sonication,” has eight songs, and “Silver Linings” is first, and it bites hard coming out of the gate, with a sturdy riff, energy, animated bass notes, and filthy harsh vocals. It isn’t without melody, however, and those fleeting moments help to provide balance to the song’s aggressive core.

“Evenfall” hears the blistering pace of the first song slow, to allow more melody to shine, although it is somber. The song has a majestic quality to it, almost like it was fit for the coronation of a king. “In Solitude” hears the furious pace and contentious sounds return, and man, bassist Robin Zielhorst is on fire. The lead guitar work is excellent as well. “The Prolonging” is a short two-minute song, but it is packed with density and guttural vocals until it is so full, it’s about to burst open. “Beyond the Seventh Son” is an instrumental with an acoustical guitar lead-in, and so far, the band is providing some diversity to the listeners. At its core, it is every bit as strong as the other songs, however.

“Stardust” opens with a somber melody, and the band isn’t afraid of these more vulnerable elements. From there however, it’s a cacophony of aggression and brutal contention, but the melody remains strong. “The Sun Eater” might be the heaviest on the album, and it burrows so deep, to places where no light can possibly enter. The title track closes the album, and it might be the most balanced song on the album. Those extended vocals screams will rattle your core. The challenge with Tech Death bands is making music that isn’t overly sterile, and finding ways to supplant melody in places where the listener might least expect them. OBSCURA have done that with “A Sonication.” The heavier elements keep the album weighted and powerful, and they rule, but the band tempers them with majestic moments of melody.