Obscura is a band that I never liked. As much as I enjoy technical death metal, these guys are one of the main representatives of a modern movement that give more importance to the demonstration of technique than to the creation of complete compositions. At least that’s how I perceived it, since everything I listened to gave me that feeling. And it wasn’t just them, dozens of bands in that sound do the same thing, as if there’s a competition over who can play faster and more technically.
But the band’s seventh album is different, in the sense that the music is more “layered” in places. The tracks have a beginning, middle and end. Technique is of course there, that doesn’t change, but it’s not long-winded and without substance but properly integrated so that it doesn’t get out of hand and overload the compositions. There are also several excellent guitar melodies that give a variety to the result, as for example in the wonderful “Stardust”. It is the first full-length work of the Germans that I listened to with interest without getting tired and without wanting to stop listening after three or four songs.
Unfortunately, there is a big black cloud over this album. Two former members of the band, who left in 2024, accuse founder, sole original member, singer, guitarist and main composer Steffen Kummerer of using their own ideas without their consent. Alex Weber as well as Christian Münzner claim that Kummerer stole parts they had written while in Obscura (which were deemed unsuitable for the band) and that it was agreed upon when they left that Kummerer would not use them on his next release. As of this writing, both he and Nuclear Blast have not taken a position on the matter.
If you overlook this fact and focus only on the musical part, “A Valediction” is a really good technical death metal album. It has great compositions and makes me want Obscura to continue in this direction on their next works. But is it possible not to think about it, when Weber has provided audio clips showing that parts of it have been used as is? Especially when this isn’t the first time a member of the Germans has accused Kummerer of the very same thing? Let each listener judge the situation by their own standards.
