Tomarum
Beyond Obsidian Euphoria


3.5
great

Review

by Hawks CONTRIBUTOR (205 Reviews)
April 14th, 2025 | 25 replies


Release Date: 04/04/2025 | Tracklist

Review Summary: All aboard the cheese train!

There has always been something about the over-the-top nature of certain metal bands that has drawn me in over the years. Bands like Cradle and Dimmu of course, but there’s also bands like Xanthochroid, Ne Obliviscaris and Carach Angren that have blown me away with their bombastic synths and cheesy storylines. Tomarum is a progressive/tech death/symphonic black metal band from Atlanta and they’re here to stake their claim in the cheese fest.

Beyond Obsidian Euphoria is the band’s second album and it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The first half of the album really shines through. The first 3 tracks here really showcase a lot of brilliance in how to make over-the-top, bombastic metal. The riffs soar over the keys in an almost neoclassical way with melody and technicality being at an all time high. These tracks build an atmosphere of triumph as the tech death riffage blends masterfully with the majestic synth work. It’s almost as if they took the cheesiness of Ne Obliviscaris and married it to the dark, black metal(ish) murk of Opeth’s early albums.

Where these guys run into problems is in the back half of the album. Simply put, some of these tracks just meander WAY too long. Silver, Ashen Tears and The Pursuit of Light are prime examples, with the latter reaching almost 15 minutes. Tomarum played around way too much with worthless, spaced out atmospherics to take up time when in reality they could’ve easily cut 5 minutes (or more) off of each track. Instead of being around 45 minutes, Beyond Obsidian Euphoria goes well past the hour long mark and I can’t help but think that hurts the overall quality of the album.

There are definitely moments of magic here. A lot of the riffs hit extremely hard and the synth work is to be commended 90% of the time. If they would’ve trimmed some of the fat, this would be an easy 4. These kinds of bands tend to do a little too much a lot of the time and Tomarum did that here. But that’s not to say that there aren’t moments of pure ass kicking metal here as well. If these guys can hone in on their formula a bit more, a masterpiece could be in their future.



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3.8
excellent
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Comments:Add a Comment 
Hawks
Contributing Reviewer
April 14th 2025


102062 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Good album.

Ectier
April 14th 2025


3813 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Oh woops lol

Hawks
Contributing Reviewer
April 14th 2025


102062 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

What bro??? Lol

Ectier
April 14th 2025


3813 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I didnt see the review, going from our sound off convo haha

Hawks
Contributing Reviewer
April 14th 2025


102062 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Ohhhh!! All good buddy lol.

Scheumke
April 14th 2025


2844 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Spinned this quite a few times the last week and it gets better with every listen. Easy 4 for me, might be a 4.5 honestly. Shed This Erroneous Skin is amazing.



Also I absolutely love both Ne Obliviscaris and Xanthochroid so this falls right into my wheelhouse.

Ectier
April 14th 2025


3813 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Same, i just need to give this more time

FearThyEvil
April 14th 2025


19095 Comments


Never heard of this band but man, their artwork is fucking sexy

Ectier
April 14th 2025


3813 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

It is pretty fine

Ectier
April 14th 2025


3813 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Also Check Idle heirs my dudes

Hawks
Contributing Reviewer
April 14th 2025


102062 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

This definitely rules but it 100% drags on way too long. Still worth the time for the most part though.

BallsToTheWall
April 15th 2025


52491 Comments


Need to jam.

Hawks
Contributing Reviewer
April 15th 2025


102062 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Do it Ballsy.

JohnDillinger
April 15th 2025


350 Comments


I love this, but the fact that I could randomly remove two or three tracks from the record, and it would end up sounding better, makes me question my taste in metal.

Hawks
Contributing Reviewer
April 15th 2025


102062 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Tracks 7 and 8 could be taken out and it would make this a better album.

mindleviticus
April 15th 2025


10792 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

I love this haha

Hawks
Contributing Reviewer
April 15th 2025


102062 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Its good yeah.

Faraudo
April 15th 2025


5169 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Now this is what I mean when I say "generic dm Sputcore bait," unfortunately. Good album (great review from you Hawks) and solid execution, but I will probably forget about it tomorrow. Like, I've got nothing else to say about it.

Hawks
Contributing Reviewer
April 15th 2025


102062 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Agreed!! Thanks buddy.

frozencarl
April 15th 2025


1905 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

nice hawks, debut is definitely my fave but this has its moments. these guys def need to trim their albums better lol



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