Atanaria
OBEYER’s debut album, Chemical Well, marks a significant and compelling entry into the contemporary metalcore landscape. Released under Periphery-owned 3DOT Recordings, the Northampton quintet, born from the remnants of Lay Siege, present a soundscape steeped in bleak, apocalyptic atmospheres, blending djent, sludge, and progressive metal into a cohesive, intensely immersive experience.
From the Haunting Opener to Intense Climaxes
The album opens with Witness, immediately setting a haunting tone with eerie ambiance interwoven with pummeling grooves. Vocalist Carl Brown’s menacing, layered screams add to the track’s sinister presence, while Sam Bloor’s dynamic mix ensures that each element—ambient interludes, crushing breakdowns, and subtle details—finds its place without overwhelming the listener.
Melodic Twists and Atmosphere Building
Mid-album, Radiant introduces clean vocals, offering a melodic contrast without straying from the album’s overall tone. This balance of melody and aggression enhances the album’s cohesiveness, showing OBEYER’s ability to innovate within their heavy framework. All Sullen then pushes boundaries further, combining layered djent rhythms with blackened elements and blast beats from drummer Lewis Niven. This seamless transition into deathcore-infused sections adds depth and complexity to the record’s already rich sonic palette.
This intensity carries through to A Momentary Death, which amplifies the foreboding narrative through skillful use of dissonance and rhythm changes. The track’s djenty closing riff is delivered with brutal precision, showcasing the synergy between guitarist Jamie Steadman and bassist David Bartlett as they weave ominous leads with hefty grooves.
Dripfed maintains the haunting atmosphere with its spacey chorus, effectively blending progressive metal rhythms with symphonic deathcore’s dark soundscapes. The band’s attention to maintaining a despair-laden tone throughout the record is commendable, never allowing the intensity to wane.
Progressive Highlights and Sludge-Infused Closers
Brand New Damage stands out with its more melody-focused approach, opening with gentle piano notes before descending into familiar heaviness. The melancholic chord progressions and pronounced riffs highlight the band’s progressive metal influences, offering a refreshing break from relentless brutality.
The album concludes with A Slow Shift to a Cold Shiver, a doom-laden track that gradually builds in intensity, culminating in a depressive wall of sound. It encapsulates the apocalyptic essence of the album, leaving a lingering, chilling impression.
A Haunting Debut
Chemical Well is more than just a collection of heavy tracks; it’s a meticulously crafted journey through bleak and brooding soundscapes. Its intricate blend of djent, sludge, and progressive metal elements creates a rich, dynamic experience that demands multiple listens to fully appreciate. OBEYER’s ability to maintain a cohesive narrative across ten tracks, without falling into repetitiveness, is a testament to their artistry and vision.
In a metalcore scene often dominated by trends, Chemical Well stands as a refreshingly unrelenting and atmospheric debut. OBEYER have not only set a high standard for themselves but also positioned themselves as a force to watch in modern metal.
