Review by Adam M on November 23, 2021.

What Obscura have conjured on their new album A Valediction is a nice comeback from recent efforts. There is a renewed sense of vitality that shows a band firing on all cylinders. Right from the opening track 'Forsaken' the band gets off to a brisk pace and demonstrates a fiery passion. They could have made things yet even more interesting, but this is about all that could be expected from the band at this point. The progressive soundscapes are wondrous to behold and demonstrate an effective and on point outfit. Aggression blends with versatility in a fashion that is really interesting. Guitars form a complex tapestry that is nice to behold. Drumming form an interesting backdrop to the tunes. It is fine to note that the bass playing also contributes nicely to the mix.

Overall, the band is tight and very effective sounding. If there is an issue with the disc it lies in how the band hasn't progressed much over the course of their releases. Still, this is a musically fascinating endeavor that shows the variety the band is able to maintain. One can see a progression leading up to the point of relatively uninteresting albums. It is not since Cosmogenessis that the band has made such a huge impact and taken over the listener's sense so nicely. There is room for more progression as the band could open up their sound even more. Still, this is a fine demonstration of death metal that is one of the highlights of the style.

It will be interesting to see where the band goes from here in the future. But there is no doubt they have come to another peak in their progression. There could be more focus on the innovative aspects of their sound, but this is most certainly a strong release that will cement Obscura's place amongst death metal’s elite. Nice work gentleman.

Rating: 7.7 out of 10