Published: March 7, 2014

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 symbolic ritual that has conjured up in my mind something imaginary Indian (American), led me to believe that you have something on your hands Extreme contaminated in some way by the songs and music of the Native Americans. My fantasy is traveling too fast because when the abundant nine minutes of "Brothers in the Stars" make their appearance in my stereo, I get attacked by a nice burst of pure, dark black metal that leaves no respite, if only for a few interlude pollution, which the duo of Massachusetts occasionally grants. With the subsequent "Black Hole in Human Form", the U.S. band changes slightly tainting register their ferocious sound with a doom pace initially. Clear that when our stomp on the accelerator, the tone became more bitter and sharp. The relentless blast beats of the song and the sudden deceleration / ramblings, end outline the post-black component of the former one man band by Brendan Hayter. An arpeggio at the end of the track allows me time to catch his breath, before being engulfed by the soothing melody of "My Hands Were Made to Hold the Wind", which allows me to frame from our point of view different from that described so far . The song in fact is much more calm and relaxed, with a wider space assigned to an ambient component and trespassing pagan (Primordial style). This does nothing but increase my interest, not just initially enthusiastic. "The Birth of Tragedy" confirms this trend, combining the ferocity of the black progressive digressions (school Enslaved), and the result certainly more valuable, also dictated by the alternation of choral voices to clean those ugly of American vocalist. Let's say that the album is fluctuating in its liveliness, providing a songwriting is not always homogeneous or height, just as I must admit I prefer the ensemble in the most reasoned and slow down, as it happens right in the middle break of "The Birth of Tragedy "that is a candidate to be the most successful track (and varied) of this 'A Nest of Ravens in the Throat of Time'. With "Individuation" and the closing title track, our definitively seem to straighten the shot even if some voltage drop is seen on several occasions. Let's say that the album still reveals major shortcomings of in terms of songwriting, screaming vocals does not quite live up to the sometimes sterile or furious acceleration, so our hope that they can identify what is not working in the best working on it for the next release, which at this point, I will expect a lot. We'll hear.