Obskuria - Discovery of Obskuria [World In Sound - 2008]Obskuria are a psychedelic/space rock, meet lo-grade prog band with torches of lazy punk and other genre traces too, With a keyboard/organ prominence weaved through the often tongue–in–cheek songs. Bringing together members from across three continents; from the USA’s is guitarist Tom Brehm ( Dragonwyck and Moonlight Drive), from Germany Winnie Rimbach-sator( Karmic Society) and the rest of the members from Peruvian space rockers La Ira de Dios Discovery of Obskuria is their debut album but their sound is already firmly in place and distinctive, during the albums just over 70 minute running time they do three covers but make them total their own. First up you have their version of For whom the bell tolls by Metallica, which in theory is a crazy tune to try and pull off but the manage it hands down, slowing it’s pace down and weaving in Hammond organ and keyboard pumps to take centre stage for most of the track, turning it into a groovy psychedelic monster. Later on we have The Beatles Come Together which is slowed, hazed and stoned out, again with great groovy Hammond organ – sounding completely like their own song. The last cover is the Misfit’s Die Darling Die which starts off with an organ black sun rise before kicking into the guitar and organ groove with female and male vocal meshed over the top- having quite a dark gospel punk rock vibe to it with some mean solo organ work midway. And their own penned tracks are none too shabby either going from the horror tinged punk organ lined groove of the opener I am my own god. To the Breakfast suite which openers with cluttering cutlery before sliding into a primevil grimy organ rock groove like a more down and dirty instrumental version of the Doors. On to Essence of it’s own 18 minute spacey prog meets laid back Hammond jam. Really there are few mis-steps here and it flows as a whole album with it’s own often quirky charm. An enjoyable opening shot that was clearly as enjoyable to do as it is to listen to. So if your looking for a fun, groovy and creative rock album that mangers to mix and match its genres in a laid back manner look no futher. Roger Batty
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