Published: July 27, 2013

From Massachusetts in the US comes the atmospheric black metal duo of Greg Murphy (Blood of the Gods, Deadstation) and Brendan Hayter (Blood of the Gods, Thawsunblat) and their second album, the enigmatically and thought provoking “A Nest of Ravens In The Throat Of Time”, released through Hypnotic Dirge Records and as an added bonus features a guest vocalist, one John Haughm of a certain well know band, Agalloch!

I doubt very much that the man from Agalloch would put his mark on an album that wasn’t going to be up to his standards and with that in mind “A Nest of Ravens in the Throat of Time” doesn’t disappoint.  Featuring everything from the echo filled sound of the harsh desperate vocals, winding and often hypnotic guitar melodies and all of this tempered with cleaner, chant like vocals that permeate the album, as well as more chilling, haunting moments of slower intricate harmonies.

The Obsidian Tongue sound is one of a truly methodical nature, the pace never really picking up any great speed and instead for the most part remains fairly content to move steadily forward and create intense bouts of deeply personal and haunting experiences, although as is the case during “Black Hole In  Human Form” the band are capable of throwing out some more aggressive, faster black metal flare to keep you guessing as to which twist and turn they will take next!

 

As with any good atmospheric black metal album this has the ability to cradle you in it’s mist filled haze and lull you off into a gentle trance and for me that is the mark of a truly impressive record. Peaceful and calming one moment, aggressive, pleading and raw the next and always charming! Good show old chap!