EMERGING

"Emerging" is the debut full-length studio album by Dutch metal act Obsidian. The album was originally self-released in May 2006 but it was subsequently picked up by Rusty Cage Records for a 2007 label release. The two versions differ a bit from each other as the vocal tracks by original vocalist Serge Regoor were re-recorded by new vocalist Robbe Kok for the 2007 version. In addition to featuring new vocal tracks, the Rusty Cage Records version was also remastered.

The music is technical extreme metal with deep growling vocals. The vocals and the slow parts of the music are reminiscent of Opeth, the mid-paced riffs are reminiscent of Meshuggah and the faster parts are reminiscent of Soilwork and their ilk. Obsidian´s music might not be the most original combination of stylistic elements but their playing abilities are way above average and their music is of a relatively high quality despite the obvious influences, which are worn a bit too much on the sleeve.

As mentioned above one of the greatest assets on "Emerging" is the stellar musicianship. Time signature changes, tempo changes, and high class instrumental performances are what we are treated to on the album. The vocals are pretty standard for the genre, but they get the job done.

The sound production is generally of good quality and helps to bring out the best in the music. I have a slight issue with the acoustic parts though as they sound a bit underproduced to my ears. Overall "Emerging" is a good release by Obsidian. It´s not spectacular and you probably won´t be surprised by what you hear, but it´s solid and enjoyable. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.