One of the most influential American Death Metal bands in history returns with a brand new release, through Relapse Records, while in the meantime crossing the threshold of three decades of devastating Metal. OBITUARY are out there again, preaching their words and destructive demeanor to the public ear. There is no greater celebration than issuing a self-titled album to mark yet another important milestone in band's career and OBITUARY did just that. Furthermore, the band proved, over and over, that they are constantly bound by their roots without any slight chance of ever abandoning the rightful methodology of creating extremity.

One of the aspects that I have always admired about OBITUARY, whether through excellent or weaker albums, is their hammering between pure Death Metal and Thrash Metal. Let's face it, back in OBITUARY's early period of the mid to late 80s, Thrash Metal played an invaluable role in the American scene's lifespan, and the emerging Death Metal still has lots in common with the former. Within the lines of "Obituary" the conviction and precision of the old school flame are high and mighty, devouring with a sense speed in company with mid-tempo grooves and brutal palm muted infestations ascertaining the band's sheer heaviness. Have no mistake, there is no room for over the edge abilities, just a downright fist in the face, holding nothing back. Additionally, and the same goes for their previous album "Inked In Blood", I came to witness another stellar lead guitar performance of Kenny Andrews, that discharged a series of incredible classic Metal solos, a commodity that many Death Metal bands lost in their formed oblivion.

"Obituary" as a whole is still far in form to the band's early career achievements such as "Cause Of Death" or "Slowly We Rot", yet can be deemed as a satisfying result for the die-hard fans and genre followers. This album depicts a band that haven't lost its touch of raining down powerful Death Metal tunes, which some would be a journey back in time. "Turned to Stone" was my personal trek back to the golden age of the band. In a way it proclaimed what OBITUARY means to me, vehement vigorous riff based Death Metal surging between mid to energetic fast tempos while slicing through the brain with crude soloing. It was also quite pleasing to notice that John Tardy never lost his touch at the front of the vocals. "Sentence Day" almost had me lost with all the speedy Thrash Metal endurance. Crushing every bit in its path, this is old school as it can get. "Kneel Before Me" surpasses as a bloody bath of meaty brutality, slow tempo haunting tremolo riffs, screeching guitar howls cutting through the air to commemorate the upcoming groove fest. The bonus "No Hope" revealed itself as a brutal heavyweight molester, definitely a song that could have been a part of the earlier material. Another certain proof that the band is still sitting tight.

OBITUARY strived to win and even if it might not be their best to date, it surely maintained their stature as one of the leading Death Metal bands worldwide, for a fact one of the truest icons.