Review from Ech(((o)))es and Dust Webzine

August 13, 2014
From: Ech(((o)))es and Dust Webzine
Published: August 1, 2014

When I ask myself what black metal is, I’m at a loss of words sometimes. Everyone out there thinks they are right, they know what black metal is, should be, etc. etc. I personally don’t care. I know the genesis of black metal, the bands that a lot of people site as starters of the genre. But, here isn’t the place to have this major debate that will forever be had. I’ll call Obsidian Tongue a black metal band, albeit one that isn’t afraid to expand their horizons and not be limited by the “genre”. A Nest of Ravens in the Throat of Time is album number two from these Massachusetts boys. And it’s a bleak story they have to tell.

Consisting of guitarist/vocalist Brendan Hayter and drummer Greg Murphy, Obsidian Tongue does an excellent job of mixing their spacey, dreamed out melodies as a counteract to their black metal presence. Opening track ‘Brothers in the Stars’ mixes tempos at times, even dipping into a psychedelic “interlude” at one point in the song before the drums come crashing in with tremolo picking and driving riffs. Hayter’s vocals are good, make no mistake. But you would have a hard time telling him apart from many other vocalists. This still doesn’t detour from feeling his voice as he rasps and sings to you all throughout.
 
Their ability to not stick to a regular formula is catching. It keeps the flow of the songs moving. Be it from the solo leading to dream space on ‘My Hands Were Made to Hold the Wind’ or the up and down tempos of assault to phased out, atmospheric almost, glory on ‘Individuation’. On the closing title-track (which includes vocals from Agalloch’s John Haughm) is drenching in melancholy and slowly plucked guitars set to make the cloud seem extra gray when listening. The song’s later half pulls out a driving beat and what may be the most depressive three-plus minutes of the record. And the soul twisting solo is like a knife in the heart as is weaves all around you. The band doesn’t pull the plug at the end; they just simply fade out, leaving you staring at your shoes while the rain pours around you.

I realize that many bands are taking chances nowadays. No one wants to be “normal”. But in the detouring from normalization, a new norm has been created. That isn’t to say the Obsidian Tongue falls into that stigma at all. They play a fairly familiar type of music, but they also play it very well. They also provide some memorable moments that will have you coming back or re-listening to the album to satisfy the urge your heart has. A Nest of Ravens in the Throat of Time is definitely worth checking out, autumn and winter will be here soon enough, and you’ll need a soundtrack.

You can pick up A Nest of Ravens in the Throat of Time now through Hypnotic Dirge Records. Support artists and musicians you enjoy. Go out and grab this album.

Reviewed by: Ryan Stephenson
 

Review from Disfactory Webzine

August 13, 2014
From: Disfactory Webzine
Published: August 1, 2014
*Google translation of Italian review

I do not know the onset Volume I: Architecture Subradiant (but I promise that I'm going to find out, maybe I should do so before talking about the new creature but some things "just happen"), then entry into the world of Americans Obsidian Tongue takes all 'dark, thanks to the usual, talented label overseas Hypnotic Dirge Records . By now it's safe-or quasi-(depends on the individual and unique ...

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Review from Moonspell Rites Promotions

May 6, 2014
From: Moonspell Rites Promotions
Published: May 5, 2014

The release has been out for a while now,but damn!I most definitely missed out on something!Combine influences from bands such as US located bands such as Agalloch with bands from the Scandinavian scene like Ulver (especially the record 'Bergtatt'), and some Doom influenced massive melodic Black Metal.This is just a pure massive piece of songwriting no doubts about that. The song are really diverse and there is not a negative ...

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Review from Forgotten Path Magazine; Issue 6

March 19, 2014
From: Forgotten Path Magazine; Issue 6
Published: November 2014

This band is a typical Black Metal project. Its history is a hundred times told story - from the very beginning it was a one-man project, after a half-year a drummer had joined and they have been playing for four years, releasing one demo and two albums... Besides that, their photos are taken in the forest and in concerts (I mean, where else could they have been taken?) and the lyrics about nature and emotions, whic...

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Review from The Pit of the Damned Blogspot

March 10, 2014
From: The Pit of the Damned Blogspot
Published: March 7, 2014
*Google translation of Italian review

The Hypnotic Dirge Records continues its search in the deepest underground, looking for bands that have something interesting to say in the field of black metal. Today I stop to expatiate on the second chapter of the discography of American Obsidian Tongue, from the cover that drew in some way my attention. A stylized face in black and white (I think) of the feathers on the head and a...

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Review from Volumes of Sin Webzine

February 28, 2014
From: Volumes of Sin Webzine
Published: February 26, 2014

Initially, Obsidian Tongue was formed as a solo project by vocalist/guitarist Brendan Hayter in 2009; however shortly after the formation drummer Greg Murphy joined the now two man group. They later released their initial album, Volume I: Subradiant Architecture via Dissociation Records in 2012; this label has also co-released the band's follow-up endeavor, A Nest of Ravens in the Throat of Time which was released a little o...

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Review from Transcending Obscurity Webzine

February 28, 2014
From: Transcending Obscurity Webzine
Published: February 25, 2014

Hypnotic Dirge Records has got some fascinating bands under its roof, among the lukewarm groups comprising the label's roster. The more I explore the various releases bearing the Hypnotic Dirge logo, the more I realize I have been missing out some of the action this fine label has been offering. First, I was blown away by Galaktik Cancer Squad's ‘Ghost Light’, and now this album, the second full length by America...

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Review from Legacy Magazine; Issue #86

February 28, 2014
From: Legacy Magazine; Issue #86
Published: September 2013
*Google translation of German review

If you want to know exactly why the U.S. Black Metal in this country enjoys a still rather mixed reputation, the second album of the two East Coast musician Greg Murphy (drums) and Brendan Hayter (residual) should be pure drive. Obsidian Tongue dig deep into the spice rack for too unique genre assignments to escape. There are songs like, The Birth of Tragedy 'or the opener, Brothers In...

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Review from Pure Nothing Worship Magazine; Issue 2

February 17, 2014
From: Pure Nothing Worship Magazine; Issue 2
Published: March 2014

The second full-length album of this young act from USA offers around 50 minutes of unique, dark and natural black metal in the ever intriguing style arising from the USA, known for  it’s primordial and natural sound, that first appeared with the rise of Cascadian black metal movement. Filled to the brim with a vast array of emotions, this album is a storm of pride, melancholy, heathenism and sorrow, and is a solid...

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Review from Alternativ Musik Webzine

December 5, 2013
From: Alternativ Musik Webzine
Published: December 5, 2013
*Google translation of German review

'A Nest of Ravens in the Throat of Time' is the second album of the now two-headed Black Metal project grown Obsidian Tongue from Illinois. Musically one moves in typical American black metal realms, as we know it from Wolves in the Throne Room or Agalloch: So the pieces are all about long advised atmospherically dense and vary in mood again and remain unpredictable. Sometimes melancholic...

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OBSIDIAN TONGUE - A NEST OF RAVENS IN THE THROAT OF TIME
 

 Released: July 29, 2013
600 Copies
Atmospheric Primal Black Metal

CO-RELEASE WITH DISSOCIATION RECORDS (OBSIDIAN TONGUE'S LABEL)


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