Review Summary: a highly underrated swedish death metal classic that is worth anyone's time and money.
When one thinks of the Swedish death metal scene, what comes to mind? Traits such as melody and atmosphere normally come to mind, but what of brutality? You see, the early years of Swedish death metal were far from what it is known as today. Bands like Entombed and Dismember were helping put death metal on the map in Sweden. Amidst the early Swedish death metal scene, Hypocrisy was formed. Combining the speed, ferocity, and brutality of the Florida early death metal scene, with the melody of the equally as brutal Swedish death metal scene, Hypocrisy released their sophomore album, Osculum Obscenum, one of the most underrated death metal albums to have ever existed.
Hypocrisy was:
Peter tagtren: guitar
Masse Broberg: Vocals
Michael Hedlund: bass
Lars Szoke: Drums
Osculum Obscenum is not what you would expect from Swedish death metal. The distinctive guitar traits and slight hints of melody seen from bands like Dismember and Entombed are not there. Instead, were given searing, brutal riffs and evil vocals most commonly related to the early Florida death metal scene. This is because before Tagtren formed Hypocrisy, he spent 3 years in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It was there he gained the influence for Hypocrisy, before returning to his home town in Sweden. You can hear a huge influence on this album from Deicide. Especially the vocals, which make use of Glen Benton’s scream/growl vocal style.
The guitar work can be described as a mix of both the Swedish and Floridian death metal styles. Riffs are evil, nasty, and muddy, but also contain hints of melody. It’s an interesting hybrid style that sets Osculum Obscenum apart from its Swedish Counterparts. The only things I can complain about are the solos, which contain absolutely no melody, what so ever, and are often just random, distorted noises. Luckily they are very short and do not hinder the action too much.
The lyrics are not what you would expect from a Swedish death metal band. Normally the lyrics are focused around death, darkness, loss of sanity, and other things. Hypocrisy’s lyrics are almost entirely satanic and extreme, Sort of like what you would expect from the early Norwegian black metal scene. The drumming is what you would typically expect from death metal. Blast beats, Double bass, and quick fills add an extra layer of aggression and brutality to the music.
Unfortunately, not much variety is present during this album. Every song sounds similar, and the brutality can get tiring. There are little to no breaks and you are constantly being pummeled with it. The atmosphere is incredibly eerie, dark, and evil.
Despite the lack of variety, Osculum Obscenum has some really great songs. Inferior Devoties, the single, and the only song that was made into a video, is a conglomeration of everything you would expect from the album. It starts fast and does not let up. Pleasure of Molestation, another highlight, starts with an atmospheric opening, before pummeling your face with an onslaught of pure, sadistic death metal. Attachment to the Ancestor is a slow, evil, groove laden track that oozes along at a snails pace, but doesn’t seem to get boring. It also contains a cover of Venom’s classic song, black metal. The cover is decent, but they could have done without.
All in all, Osculum Obscenum is one of the most underrated death metal albums of all time. Great, evil riffing, brutal varied vocals, consistent bass, and ear shattering drums come together to form one of the most unique Swedish old school death metal albums ever made. It is marred only by its repetition. If you are looking for a good, solid helping of old school death metal, this is for you.
Pros:
The Brutality
Consistency
Vocals are awesome
Cons:
The solos
The lack of Variation
Recommended Tracks;
Pleasure of Molestation
Exclamations of a Necrofag
Inferior Devoties
Osculum Obscenum
