When you take a look at the CD cover of the first full length record of these Norwegians, you would think Obliteration is a pure death metal band, but it’s not what it seems. Although they mainly play oldschool death metal in the vein of Obituary there are major thrash influences. The beginning of the opening song for instance will probably please many Slayer fans, although it isn’t of a high quality. The production is of an equal level, which is called “grim and dry as pulverized skulls” by Darkthone’s Fenriz, and people who are into oldschool death and thrash will probably like the no bullshit approach.

 

The vocals have the characteristic howls as John Tardy of Obituary, but the singer of Obliteration takes it a bit further. With his strange tone and volume alternation he takes it to a level where it starts to sound laughable and you sometimes just can’t take it serious anymore because it sounds as if some mentally handicapped guy handles the microphone.

 

The sound and feeling of Obliteration has much ground in common with Obituary, but where Obituary often has a nice groove Obliteration throws in some oldschool thrash riffs. Nothing refreshing here; just plain oldschool death and thrash, with a singer which I found quite annoying.