OBSCURA

Written in 93-95, finally put out in 98, this album could be described as "death metal's Ummagumma"; to even call it metal is much like calling Ummagumma rock 'n' roll. While metal is generally listened to loud and in your face, this album is best listened to in the back of your mind: quiet, and in high definition. Heavily layered and very psychedelic at its core, this is one of those "cosmic experience" albums, much like Yes' Close to the Edge and Sleep's Dopesmoker, where the writers were clearly on some next level that no one else will ever really understand, such that you'll never find another album like it.