It has been five years since the release of OBSCURA's universally acclaimed album Omnivium. Now the progressive metal masters return with their strongest and most dynamic release to date. The aptly named Akróasis (Greek for "hearing" or "listening") draws on all the various elements of OBSCURA's signature sound and combines those qualities into a cohesive and mind-blowing whole. A trailer featuring samples of new music from Akróasis can be seen HERE, and the album artwork is available above.
Akróasis will be released February 5, 2016 via Relapse Records. The album will be available in CD, 2xLP and Digital download, and CD and LP each include a separate exclusive bonus track. Physical pre-orders for Akróasis are available and digital pre-orders can be found HERE. Says OBSCURA founder and frontman Steffen Kummerer,
"With Akróasis, we produced our grand opus featuring eight songs of fluent arrangements, odd time signatures never heard before in metal, and the most high end production in the history of the band. Without question Akróasis is the heaviest, most complex record we have made to date. We cannot wait to perform live again and bring this excellent music to stages around the globe."
Produced by the band and V. Santura (Triptykon, Pestilence), Akróasis is eight songs diverse enough to serve as a near-comprehensive introduction to all of extreme metal. Packed to the gills with virtuosic musicianship, compelling themes, and airtight songwriting, Akróasis will undoubtedly breathe new life into death metal, progressive metal and beyond.
Info/Bio: Founded in 2002 by guitarist/vocalist Steffen Kummerer, German progressive death metal band OBSCURA caused a stir when they - out of nowhere - toured as support for the legendary Suffocation on the band's European tour in 2006 and independently released their debut album Retribution that same year. From its very beginnings, the band (named after Gorguts' inimitable 1993 full-length) 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.
OBSCURA is:
Steffen Kummerer ' Vocals & Guitars
Rafael Trujillo ' Guitars
Linus Klausenitzer ' Bass
Sebastian Lanser ' Drums
Akróasis Tracklisting:
1. Sermon of the Seven Suns
2. The Monist
3. Akróasis
4. Ten Sepiroth
5. Ode to the Sun
6. Fractal Dimension
7. Perpetual Infinity
8. Weltseele
9. Melos (Deluxe Vinyl Bonus Track)
10. The Origin of Primal Expression (CD Bonus Track)
