Review Summary: Triumph.
Obsequaie thrive off of a natural and holistic feeling of catharsis. This is something that has been present ever since their debut,
Suspended in the Brume of Eos(something improved upon with a notably clear yet warm production update on
Aria of Vernal Tombs). They've always managed to conjure images of spritely rollicking hills and moss encroached castles, all without the cheesy vibes of any other band that can play an unpronouncable obscure medieval string instrument. Off of
Palms of Sorrowed Kings this is further exemplified with maybe even more fervor than usual.
"L'autrie m'en aloie" is more of a tone setter than anything, a warm and wondrous welcome into the much more bombastic "Ceres in Emerald Streams". It's all so very jubilant and triumphant, the way soaring meandering guitar melodies are enforced by fuzzy rasps and delicate cymbal crashes that it makes the punchy blast beats and more frenetic pace just halfway through feel so damn earned. Truly, the way Obsequiae handle transitions is astounding as nothing is either forced or repeated. Every sweet melody is fleeting and every sudden outburst of energy purposeful.
This is a point proven further by the interludes. Perhaps this is a sweeping take, but I have found interludes are often forced and used as a lazy way to create track diversity. This makes it much more impressive that many of the greatest moments here lie in the interludes such as "Per Tropo Fade". Graceful harp pluckage (an ugly term for such an elegant instrument), babbling brooks and birds chirping would be cheesy if they weren't just so goddamn gorgeous and if other songs weren't dedicated to creating a similar atmosphere on a larger scale. It's this dedication to environment that makes everything work, something present with the quiver and pulse of drums on "Lone Isle" or the immense guitar arpeggio midway through "Asleep in the Bracken". Whether it be chainmail clad knights clashing steel or soft windswept heaths, there is always a fully realized exploration into a world before our own that Obsequiae wants us to see, with The Palms of Sorrowed Kings being the vessel in which to carry us into this medieval wonderland.
