The Swedish Death Metal scene has two faces: the one where CARNAGE, ENTOMBED, DISMEMBER, UNLEASHED and others are, that evolved from NIHILIST (a Hardcore band) embryonic features, and has a more traditional approach; the other known as ‘Gothenburg sound’ created by AT THE GATES and popularized by IN FLAMES and DARK TRANQUILITY is filled with melodies. And the quintet OBSTRUKTION (from Gothenburg) stays at the first path, as heard on “The End Takes Form”, their latest full-length. Ragnar Östberg (recording), Joe Clayton (mixing) and Ulf Blomberg (mastering) are the ones who worked to give the band the right sonority: something that has that classic features created at Sunlight Studios in the early years of the 90s, but always trying to be defined.

It means that the sonority is aggressive and nasty, but understandable. And the artwork of Ciarán Nolan tries to put in evidence what the quintet is up to. Even being from Gothenburg, the quintet shows a work that resembles the early days of Swedish Death Metal, when the influences of Hardcore were clear (the vocals use screamed tunes in a Hardcore trend instead of the death growls from Death Metal), as can be heard in many passages (as on “The End Takes Form”), and even some groove and breakdowns are heard here and there. It’s brutal and massive, but catchy and charming, full of personality, and they’re unleashing a violent energy in all the album.

Being their second full-length, “The End Takes Form” shows a band that is still maturing, but on “The End Takes Form”, “Death Comes Near”, “The Final Hour”, “Sow Fear”, “Machinery of Delusion”, “Grotesque Order”, “Touched by the Void”, and “Only in Death” they reached an amazing level of quality, with all of them being great in everything, but short on time lengths. But their full potential can be estimated on “Born of Contempt”, a song that lasts more then 10 minutes, full of rhythmic shifts, different elements (as the clean and darkened beginning). And the homogeneity between vocals, guitars, bass and drums is truly amazing.

Revisiting Swedish Death Metal roots on “The End Takes Form”, OBSTRUKTION shows a different and personal work that is creating to them down a new path. And they know that!