Symbolon Obscura: Reset

I first heard the Symbolon Obscura project back in 2016 and the album Monument Valley. Then it ws on to their 2018 release titled Esoterica and now we have the latest album Reset, released in 2023. If you have checked out my previous reviews of the band you will know this is a one-man project developed by Michael DeMichele as he handles all the instruments including lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitars, bass, keyboards, and drums. He does have a couple of guests here: Philip N. Freeman on backing vocals and Simon Janis on drums on three tracks.

As with my previous experience with the band, it’s the vocals that are hard to overcome. They are so buried in the mix they are hard to hear. On previous reviews I commented on his vocals being one dimensional and that is still the case, but they sound okay here. I just wish I could hear them better. DeMichele is a pretty good guitarist and comes up with a few good heavy rock riffs, definitely ‘70s influenced. I get a Blue Oyster Cult feel on some of the tracks, minus the good production values that band brings.

I know this sounds rather harsh and I realize this is a homemade production but that’s the way I’m hearing it. Perhaps DeMichele is trying to tackle too much. If he surrounded himself with other players, he could refine things a little more and he does flesh out some good melodies. Only time will tell.

Track Listing:
1. Tribulation (4:07)
2. Reset (4:45)
3. Allegory of the Cave (6:20)
4. Pyramid Scheme (4:03)
5. Mountain Climbing (6:26)
6. Karma (4:28)
7. Breath of Life (5:13)
8. Cyber Drone (4:34)
9. Frontier (4:08)

Added: July 29th 2024
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Artist @ Spotify
Hits: 270
Language: english

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