Obscurity (band)
Encyclopedia
Obscurity is a German melodic death
/black metal
band with strong viking metal
influences hailing from Velbert
, a city in the Bergisches Land
in North Rhine-Westphalia
. They are one of the early German death/black/viking and pagan metal
bands.
They picked the name Obscurity because in their formative years their musical style could not be clearly assigned to a specific metal
genre. Since Obscurity means 'darkness' as well as 'lack of clarity', it is a good description of their extraordinarily comprehensive musical scope. This is even emphasised by the viking metal influences which they developed at a very early stage. Bands playing this kind of metal often choose names originating from Nordic mythology, so the band name is unusual, but it is representative.
Obscurity identify strongly with the Bergisches Land and use the Bergisch Lion, the heraldic emblem of the counts and subsequent dukes of Berg who ruled there in the Middle Ages, as a 'trademark' which features on almost all their releases.
In 2003, founding member Dornaz left Obscurity. He is still a 'stand-by' member of the band and also shared the stage with them on their 10-year anniversary. After Dornaz’ departure experienced guitarist and longtime friend Cortez took up his position. Through his joining of the band they gained more heft and enlarged their musical spectrum.
The same year, the band signed a distribution contract with Twilight for their album Thurisaz.
In 2006, the band signed a new record and distribution deal with Massacre Records
for the follow-up album Schlachten & Legenden.
In 2007 Obscurity celebrated their 10-year anniversary. The album Schlachten & Legenden was released in April and distributed by Massacre Records/Soulfood.
In 2008 shouter Nezrac left the band. The same year the group signed a new record contract with the music label SMP/Trollzorn.
The album Várar hit stores in March 2009, being distributed by SMP Records/Soulfood. It was originally planned as a theme album celebrating the 2,000-year anniversary of the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
. The same year, Dornaz returned to the band.
Obscurity have explicitly distanced themselves from any politically extremist views in the metal scene, saying that those involved in metal should combat Nazism and right-wing extremism in general. They vehemently express this position in their booklets, through interview statements, in announcements during live gigs and even in one of their songs.
Their musical direction today is a mix of melodic death metal and black metal enriched with strong viking metal influences and also possessing some thrash metal
features.
Obscurity confine themselves to playing traditional metal instruments (drums, guitars, bass). Fancier instruments which are frequently used in pagan metal, like keyboards, violins and flutes, and medieval gear are intentionally not to be found here.
Their music is very fast, heavy and spiked with hymn-like melodies. The band’s sound is sometimes very cold and brutal, yet harmonic and brilliantly produced. It is deeply rooted in the 'underground' but still very catchy.
Obscurity are often compared with bands like Amon Amarth
, Naglfar
, Dissection
and Unleashed
. With regard to some of Obscurity’s musical elements also Bathory
or Immortal
are mentioned as references here. Of course, these comparisons are drawn on the basis of subjective impressions and are to some extent not shared by the band members.
From 1997 to 2008, all recordings of demos and albums, layouts, etc. were solely self-financed and self-produced by Obscurity. The band refuse to let their responsibility and freedom of artistic expression be taken away by contracts of any kind. Both of their distribution and record contracts were only agreed to after completion of the albums. It was only for their four official records that they got an experienced producer/co-producer on board – Bony (shouter of Japanische Kampfhörspiele
), a longtime friend and companion of the band.
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
/black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
band with strong viking metal
Viking metal
Viking metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its galloping pace, keyboard-rich anthemic sound, bleakness and dramatic emphasis on lyrical themes of Norse mythology, Norse paganism, and the Viking Age...
influences hailing from Velbert
Velbert
Velbert is a town in the district of Mettmann, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Langenberg, a district of Velbert, is well known as the location of the Sender Langenberg transmitter site.-Geography:...
, a city in the Bergisches Land
Bergisches Land
The Bergisches Land is a low mountain range region within the state of Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, east of Rhine river, south of the Ruhr. The landscape is shaped by woods, meadows, rivers and creeks and contains over 20 artificial lakes...
in North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
. They are one of the early German death/black/viking and pagan metal
Pagan metal
Pagan metal is an umbrella term for heavy metal music which fuses extreme metal with "the pre-Christian traditions of a specific culture or region through thematic concept, rustic melodies, unusual instruments or archaic languages", usually referring to folk metal or black metal. The Norwegian band...
bands.
History
Obscurity was formed by Agalaz (guitar), Arganar (drums), Nezrac (vocals), Dornaz (guitar) and Ziu (bass) in 1997. The five founding members had already known each other for years before deciding to make their own contribution to metal.They picked the name Obscurity because in their formative years their musical style could not be clearly assigned to a specific metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
genre. Since Obscurity means 'darkness' as well as 'lack of clarity', it is a good description of their extraordinarily comprehensive musical scope. This is even emphasised by the viking metal influences which they developed at a very early stage. Bands playing this kind of metal often choose names originating from Nordic mythology, so the band name is unusual, but it is representative.
Obscurity identify strongly with the Bergisches Land and use the Bergisch Lion, the heraldic emblem of the counts and subsequent dukes of Berg who ruled there in the Middle Ages, as a 'trademark' which features on almost all their releases.
In 2003, founding member Dornaz left Obscurity. He is still a 'stand-by' member of the band and also shared the stage with them on their 10-year anniversary. After Dornaz’ departure experienced guitarist and longtime friend Cortez took up his position. Through his joining of the band they gained more heft and enlarged their musical spectrum.
The same year, the band signed a distribution contract with Twilight for their album Thurisaz.
In 2006, the band signed a new record and distribution deal with Massacre Records
Massacre Records
Massacre Records is an independent record label based in Abstatt, Germany.The label was founded in 1991 by Torsten Hartmann. The label is specialized on bands of the harder varieties of metal...
for the follow-up album Schlachten & Legenden.
In 2007 Obscurity celebrated their 10-year anniversary. The album Schlachten & Legenden was released in April and distributed by Massacre Records/Soulfood.
In 2008 shouter Nezrac left the band. The same year the group signed a new record contract with the music label SMP/Trollzorn.
The album Várar hit stores in March 2009, being distributed by SMP Records/Soulfood. It was originally planned as a theme album celebrating the 2,000-year anniversary of the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest took place in 9 CE, when an alliance of Germanic tribes led by Arminius of the Cherusci ambushed and decisively destroyed three Roman legions, along with their auxiliaries, led by Publius Quinctilius Varus.Despite numerous successful campaigns and raids by the...
. The same year, Dornaz returned to the band.
Obscurity have explicitly distanced themselves from any politically extremist views in the metal scene, saying that those involved in metal should combat Nazism and right-wing extremism in general. They vehemently express this position in their booklets, through interview statements, in announcements during live gigs and even in one of their songs.
Lyrics
Obscurity’s lyrical themes range from the martial and warlike to themes derived from Nordic mythology and also include pure fiction. In their early days they also used lyrics which were typically black metal. Political themes, however, have never been of any significance for the band and, therefore, never taken up. Their lyrics are mostly in German.Musical style
During their first years Obscurity mainly played death/black metal with some viking metal influences. Since 1998, viking metal aspects have been exerting a more and more dominating influence on the band which is primarily displayed in their lyrics as well as in some musical elements.Their musical direction today is a mix of melodic death metal and black metal enriched with strong viking metal influences and also possessing some thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
features.
Obscurity confine themselves to playing traditional metal instruments (drums, guitars, bass). Fancier instruments which are frequently used in pagan metal, like keyboards, violins and flutes, and medieval gear are intentionally not to be found here.
Their music is very fast, heavy and spiked with hymn-like melodies. The band’s sound is sometimes very cold and brutal, yet harmonic and brilliantly produced. It is deeply rooted in the 'underground' but still very catchy.
Obscurity are often compared with bands like Amon Amarth
Amon Amarth
Amon Amarth is a Swedish viking metal band from Tumba, Sweden founded in 1992, and takes its name from the Sindarin translation of Mount Doom, a location in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. The band comprises vocalist Johan Hegg, guitarists Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Söderberg, bassist Ted Lundström...
, Naglfar
Naglfar (band)
Naglfar is a Swedish melodic black metal band formed in 1992. The group was formed by Jens Rydén and Kristoffer Olivius, originally under the name Uninterred.-Biography:...
, Dissection
Dissection (band)
Dissection was a black metal band from Strömstad, Sweden. The band was formed in 1989, by Jon Nödtveidt. The band released its first EP in 1991. They disbanded in 2006, after Nödtveidt's suicide.- Band overview :...
and Unleashed
Unleashed (band)
Unleashed is a Swedish death metal band that was formed in 1989 by Johnny Hedlund. Viking culture, recollection of a pre-Christian world, and Norse folklore are common themes found in the band's songs. A number of their recent songs also contain references to J. R. R. Tolkien.-Biography:Unleashed...
. With regard to some of Obscurity’s musical elements also Bathory
Bathory (band)
Bathory was a Swedish heavy metal band, formed by Quorthon in 1983. They are regarded as pioneers of both black metal and viking metal. Quorthon remained the main songwriter and member of Bathory for more than two decades. Bathory was permanently ended after Quorthon's death in 2004...
or Immortal
Immortal (band)
Immortal is a black metal band from Bergen, Norway, founded in 1990 by current frontman/guitarist Abbath Doom Occulta and former guitarist Demonaz Doom Occulta...
are mentioned as references here. Of course, these comparisons are drawn on the basis of subjective impressions and are to some extent not shared by the band members.
From 1997 to 2008, all recordings of demos and albums, layouts, etc. were solely self-financed and self-produced by Obscurity. The band refuse to let their responsibility and freedom of artistic expression be taken away by contracts of any kind. Both of their distribution and record contracts were only agreed to after completion of the albums. It was only for their four official records that they got an experienced producer/co-producer on board – Bony (shouter of Japanische Kampfhörspiele
Japanische Kampfhörspiele
Japanische Kampfhörspiele, formed in 1998, was a grindcore band from Krefeld, Germany. Their name translates to "Japanese Combat Radio Plays." On later releases, they incorporated some death metal influences, but the band referred to their sound as "grindpunk"...
), a longtime friend and companion of the band.
Discography
- The Rebirth Of The Dark Empire (Demo, 1997)
- Christian Decay (Demo, 1999)
- Bergisch Land (Album, 2000)
- Thurisaz (Album, 2003 – release 2004)
- Schlachten & Legenden (Album, 2006 – release 2007)
- Várar (Album, 2009)
- Tenktera (Album, forthcoming 2010)
External links
- official homepage
- MySpace page
- Obscurity (Ger) - Discography at Metal Kingdom
- Obscurity (Deu) at Encyclopaedia Metallum
- Interview with Agalaz at Fiesta Pagana 2010