New York's Malstrom have conjured up a solid collection of dark & melodic thrash metal on their debut EP Obligated by Obscurity, one that easily recalls the days of Exodus' Bonded by Blood, Metallica's Kill 'Em All, and Slayer's Hell Awaits, yet still fits well alongside some of the current melodic death metal bands like In Flames, Shadows Fall, Opeth, Lamb of God, God Forbid, and Dark Tranquility. There's plenty of lethal and heavy guitar riffing going on here (just listen to the rampaging "Shatter of Worlds", which really kicks off the EP in fine fashion), thanks to the dual axe tandem of Mike Capasso and Jeff Jardine. Jardine also handles the lead vocals as well, mixing in aggressive screams with clean melodic passages. He shows his range on both fronts on the killer "Eleven", a tune that also sees drummer Bill Angelini savagely attacking his kit while the two guitarists pound out plenty of intricate riffs and blinding solos. Bassist Alex Coelho lays down some deep grooves on the meaty 'Expire", and even throws in a solo on the raging 'I Am Become Death", a seven-minute piece that goes through many twists and turns, easily a good example of progressive death/thrash metal. The band tosses in some atmospheric and acoustic moments on the intro to the moody "Into the Malstrom" , which then segues into a technical metal number led by intricate guitar work and Jardine's James Hetfield-inspired vocals. If their full-length CD, slated for release in late 2005, is this good, we may have another serious player on the metal scene.
Track Listing
1) Shatterer of Worlds (5:32)
2) Eleven (6:49)
3) Expire (5:55)
4) I Am Become Death (7:26)
5) Into the Malstrom (7:41)
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