Published: August 25, 2013

*Google translation of German review

It's time again for a tip. Not only does it to "A nest of Ravens In The Throat of Time", the second album by the Americans OBSIDIAN TONGUE not a single review in German is - even otherwise should the duo from Massachusetts fewest music listeners on our side of the Atlantic, a term be. And that's a shame drum. OBSIDIAN Although TONGUE indulge many of their countrymen the endless expanse of Cascadian black metal, they stand out from the crowd but at the same time beneficial to similar-sounding bands from. Repetitive song structure, atmosphere and content focusing on nature: these are the pillars of that genre, which found its beginning at the turn of the millennium with a weakling on the West Coast of the United States and then came to the scene top dogs of WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM to greater awareness . Of the exploits of these two veteran far away, now a thriving scene has formed. But where masterpieces like "Two Hunters" it sent yet understood, but to pack long songs with frequently repeated motifs appealing, leaving many of the current representatives with a weary yawn. Technical limitations in combination with a generous repeat - that is those ominous combination that condemns many of the newer works from the outset to failure. OBSIDIAN TONGUE And here come and "A Nest Of Ravens In The Throat Of Time" into play. With only an average of nine minutes per song, the American duo comes not only from the seasons much more dynamic and fresher than the majority of their competition around the corner. Also musically happening in these nine minutes much more. Starting with the versatile song structures OBSIDIAN TONGUES not exhausted in countless repetitions of the same scene, but work much more pleasing and interesting. The speed varies between almost doomy passages and driving black metal foundation, always pimped with acoustic interludes and atmospheric hangers. Due to this foundation, the vocal work is not limited to faded guttural vocals, but scatters always a clear passages. This float almost ULVER'esk over the mist-shrouded forest landscapes that draw OBSIDIAN TONGUE so warm and awaken associations with early Norwegian heroics. Yet even apart from that, "warming" is a good keyword. Because as well as the Grand Master of AGALLOCH shines "A Nest Of Ravens In The Throat Of Time" in a pleasant earthy production that deliberately enveloped many technical aspects with a veil, and so the whole album gives a pleasant natural sound. But not enough to AGALLOCH the similarities are also found from the purely technical aspect of many similarities, the highlight of this album from the cosmos of similar publications. Be it the way the acoustic guitar is built into the sound or the dynamic, versatile and it never vergaloppierende drums - OBSIDIAN TONGUE have obviously been inspired and build these elements sent in their own world. This seems not only to please me. John also Haughm - his character creative mind behind AGALLOCH - finished with his vocals to the final title track and an album, which makes great hope for the future.