OBSCURA

This is just one of those albums, that completly pushes music forward into uncharted realms, Obscura defies the very genre it embodies, while at the same time bending it to its own twisted will. John Cage did it in the 40's, Miles Davis did it in the 50's and 60's, Symphonic Prog in the 70's and Death did it in the 80's. Gorguts in the 90's though did something so original that it had/has no predeccsor at least not in rock music. Where as alot of prog bands get called Symphonic because they play diddly-doo keyboard solos, Gorguts show of their Penderecki, Bach and Shostakovich in subtle manner blending a clever use of counter-point with a nice mix of classical 'extened techniques' where you manipulate your instrument in a way to creat unorthodox sounds and timbre.

All in all, this is THE experimental/avant-garde metal album. While many "Avant-Garde metal" bands create a schizophrenic mix of genres but often come across as gimmicky and trivial when compared to the geniune experimentation found on Obscura.

To finish off I say but one thing. Listen to this album and listen good. Don't give up on first listen because like all Avant-Garde music, its rather diffucult to get into to. Wether you love it or hate it is completly up to you, but there is no doubt in my mind, Obscura is one of the best compositions of the past centuary. Not just in Death metal or in Avant-Garde metal but in music in general.