Obscurity (band)
Obscurity is a German Melodic Death / Black Metal band with strong Viking Metal influences from Velbert, a town in the Bergische Land in North Rhine -Westphalia. Obscurity among the early bands in the German Death/Black/Viking- and Pagan Metal.
History
Obscurity was founded in 1997 by Agalaz, Arganar, Nezrac, Dornaz and Ziu. The five founding members had known each other for many years and decided to contribute their own contribution to the beloved Metal.
The name Obscurity was chosen because the musical style has not made clearly assigned to a metal genre in the founding period. Since Obscurity both darkness and obscurity means describes this synonym extraordinary and comprehensive musical range.
The "trademark" of Obscurity is the Bergische lion, the heraldic animal of the Counts and later Dukes of Berg, who ruled the Bergische Land in the Middle Ages. This " trademark " is found throughout the band's history, like a red thread and is found in almost all publications again.
In 2003, the founding member Dornaz leaves the band. He is also a "passive " member and stood at the 10 - year anniversary again with Obscurity on stage. With Cortez quickly could an experienced guitarist and longtime friend of the band are obtained. By Cortez entering the band won again in hardness and musical range.
In the same year the band for the album Thurisaz signs a distribution agreement with the Twilight -Vertrieb.
2006 signs the band for the album then battles & Legends an Vertriebs-/Plattenvertrag with Massacre Records.
In 2007 Obscurity celebrate their 10th band anniversary. In April, the album Battles & Legends, which is sold via Massacre Records / Soulfood appeared.
In 2008, singer Nezrac leaves the band. Guitarist Agalaz is then a regular singer and continued to play the guitar work. In the same year, the band signed a Vertriebs-/Plattenvertrag at the TrollZorn Records.
In March 2009, the album Várar appears and is distributed via SMP Records / Soulfood. Shortly thereafter Dornaz returns as guitarist back in the band.
The band distances itself expressly from any political movement in extreme metal and is of the opinion that is to bring Nazism in any way with Metal consistent. This attitude clarify Obscurity vehement in their CD booklets, in interview statements, in announcements at live performances and even looks at one of their songs through.
Style
Poetry
The Poetry of Obscurity is about martial / combative subjects over Nordic mythological themes, to purely fictional themes. In the early years also more typical black metal themes were added. Political issues have no meaning in the texts and are generally not taken up. The lyrics are mostly in German.
Music
In the first years of obscurity mostly play death / black metal. While the current focus of the music is a mix of melodic Death Metal and Black Metal, so find a few items from the thrash metal influence.
The music is very fast, hard and mixed with anthemic melodies. The sometimes very cold and brutal, while discordant sound is deeply rooted in the " Underground", although he is also very catchy at the same time.
All recordings of the demos and albums of the year 1997 - 2008, layouts, etc. are solely funded by obscurity and self-produced. The band can not take responsibility and artistic freedom, through contracts of any kind. Both sales and record contracts were entered into after final completion of the albums. Only for the four albums they took with Bony ( singer of the band Japanese Kampfhörspiele ), a long-time friend and companion, as an experienced producer or co- producer on board.
Discography
- The Rebirth of the Dark Empire (Demo, 1997)
- Christian Decay (Demo, 1999)
- Bergisch Land (Album, released 2000)
- Thurisaz (Album, 2003 - released 2004)
- Battles & Legends (Album, 2006 - released 2007)
- Várar (Album, released 2009)
- Tenkterra (Album, released 2010)
- Obscurity (Album, released 2012)