Supreme Void - Towards Oblivion

Supreme Void is a new band from Poland but is already garnering attention from their last EP for their touch on ‘dissonant’ Technical Death Metal that sounds like a less proggy version of Black Crown Initiate mixed with the likes of Ulcerate and Devenial Verdict. It is loud, fast, and in one’s face but unlike a lot of more seasoned Tech Death bands out there like Misanthropy and Archspire who make the drums and vocals a huge focus, Supreme Void is all about those driving riffs that sound like a nailgun to the arm and yet while forceful have some very tasteful solos to them too. The riffs on the band’s new full length debut really showcase Ravager and Exile’s prowess and alongside Cyklon pretty much make these guys the next 3 man force to be reckoned with, much like Dying Fetus. It might not be the most varied and ADHD driven piece, but it hits hard and sticks with the listener through all six tracks.

While the album isn’t very long, there is plenty of twists and turns on the album that just doesn’t seem to relent. Tracks like ‘Remnants of Hope’ and ‘Eclipse of the Exalted’ and thunderous with the riffs and solos and the drums that also have their own thunder and not that typical hollow click like they sound on a older Vital Remains album. To complement all the music are the vocals also done by Exile whose bellows are impressive and yet clear, much like how Hate performs their style of Death Metal. Some tracks have that ‘bounce’ to the riff and more groove so it isn’t all fury like ‘Substained by Malice’ which features one of the more ‘quieting’ moments where the bass and drums just shine in rhythmic, ritual fashion before the vocals and the pace just kicks back up again. The slower moments towards the end are actually more impressive for the vocals especially because they just roar, shattering ears and mountains and that Morbid Angel drawn out whine of the guitars helps bring the force. Less dissonant than some of the other tracks, it almost sounds more downtempo Deathcore in its delivery, but is sure to be and album highlight compared to all of them simply for that moment.

 The only downside of the album is that it does fall prey to the failures of other Tech Death bands like Ulcerate and Devenial Verdict as there is a bit of a lack of variety between tracks. Sure there are some subtleties in the riffs and some of the solos, but the vocals tend to stick mostly with the one sided bellow, which is still impressive, and once you get a taste of ‘Remnants of Hope’ that pretty much sets the tone for the entire record. That being said, for a dissonant Tech Death album this one is wonderfully produced, putting it at the forefont of a starter recommendation for anyone who is new to the genre and feels that Deathspell Omega or Ulcerate is a bit too harsh and Archspire or Wormed is a bit too fast for them to keep up. “Towards Oblivion” is abyssal and hopeless in its delivery with no real upbeat moments, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t exciting. It crushes the way a Death Metal album should, and does so tastefully. It may not have that 90s Death Metal sting, but it has the groove, and while not as beauty and beast duality as some Prog Death Tech bands out there, it shows a massive sound for just 3 guys to accomplish. While like Cannibal Corpse these guys have pretty much found their niche, hopefully more well produced ‘Disso-Death’ will spew forth from Poland keep shaking the earth with what it has to deliver. A great record to showcase the genre’s fury combined with technical mastery.

4 / 5 STARS