Back in Blood

Death metal heroes Obituary’s newest album Inked in Blood is their 9^th studio album and first on record label Relapse, a name who seems to be releasing everything relevant these days in metal. This album sees the band heading to their old stomping grounds, which involves beating your ears into submission.

Obituary have been notorious for their album art, and Inked in Blood is no different. The headless torso with obituary carved in is enough to make most parents squeal and kids yell out “AWESOME” with their friends. It’s one that wont soon be forgotten.

The first song on Inked in blood “Centuries of Lies” plays like an old school hardcore song, right up until the double kick drums begin. Obituary seems to be still be on the ball after almost 20 plus years, still having the riffs that hold strong. The second song on Inked in Blood, “Violent By Nature,” brings back to that era of death metal. A slow fade in breaks into full bore metallic bone crunching groove metal. The riffs sound huge on this song, and with the slower tempo they really stand out. It’s a heavy album and this song really showcases how heavy Obituary scan still be. The solo on this is pretty much the best metal performance you’ll hear all year.

By the time the third song “Pain Inside” rolls around, most listeners will be fully entrenched in the heaviness. This song only serves to further that cause by slowing it down even further, making the point loud and clear. Obituary are still here and will always be here to make it heavy. The groove on this is absolutely head-bang worthy. “Vision in my Head” is a freight train, chugging along from riff to riff till you get to the bridge/breakdown section. It’s Obituary doing their best modern hardcore impression and it’s quite good. By the end the band slows it down and pulls out the nonstop solos, demonstrating their excellent guitar work once more.

It’s pretty clear after listening to this record that Obituary aren’t fighting to stay relevant like so many bands in the genre, they are relevant. This album is exactly  what you would expect from them and it is by no means a bad thing. Inked in Blood does not disappoint.