Review by Alex on August 5, 2020.

Picking out the meaningful bunch from the subgenre of technical death metal could be tedious especially if the pool of groups are all damn good musical technicians. However, there are some that have a bit of an edge helping them in addition to their music's structural labyrinth. Oneiric Celephaïs is one of those bands, their debut EP The Obscure Sibyl has landed them a deal with Gore House Productions and it’s easy to hear why. That "edge" the band has is their ability to merge serendipitous melodic passages with their complex instrumental wizardry. They clearly don't appear to be the kind of tech death band that would spend 45 minutes composing mindless wankery that usually passes for technical death metal; instead they understand they have an obligation to created memorable songs. As many have stated before it’s easy to write technical metal but difficult to compose material that is both technical and more so, catchy.

The Obscure Sibyl is proof of what bliss could be accomplished when merging complex instrumental patterns with intoxicating progressive rhythm sections. 'The Aeon of Death' establishes melodic milieu from the onset with sensible chord progressions, and heavily atmospheric riffing to accompany the serpentine flare that'd sweep you off your feet. Not forgetting to mention, the vocals appear with an organic gruff that keeps the listener posted; if anything, this makes the music more believable. The drumming arrives punctually through a technical showcase that is seamlessly interwoven with the tight complex riffing. 'From Beyond' takes us through an interstellar drift with an array of flawless changes and moderations in time signatures and rhythms. This track does what 'The Aeon of Death' did, but to much greater effect, thus elevating the melodicism and fused intricacies all the while picking at your mind as it compels you to partake and attempt to predict what will happen next.

Having quickly established that they can write structurally sound music, Oneiric Celephaïs then proceed to blow us away with their best song off the album, 'Vǫluspá', a 12 minute piece of unrivaled poetic soundscapes magnifying the profound totality of Oneiric Celephaïs' musical capacity. From orchestral singing, to acoustic intermezzos, to beautiful and lush passages of fluent melodicism, to near perfect clockwork instrumental wizardry and timing, this track is compositionally monolithic, ceaseless in its ability to hypnotize and direct the listener and sounds like the main reason behind being picked up by Gore House Productions.

Demonstrating the ability to forego the common standards of technical death metal is not easy, especially when it's lauded and rewarded by many. However, Oneiric Celephaïs clarify that they intend to make music that is above and beyond the accepted norm and The Obscure Sibyl is the proof this talented quartet stands by.

Rating: 8.7 out of 10

Review by Chris Pratl on February 16, 2019.

How sweet it is to hear another gem from one of the better bands to emerge from Illinois in as many years. To the Frontlines is Züül's sophomore effort and actually surpasses the majesty of the debut from 2010. I never had a doubt. 

Züül is one of those bands that just forces you to eagerly anticipate its next musical move. After hearing Out of Time two years ago and having the privilege of doing an “Emerging Talent” profile of my fellow statesmen, I knew well what was coming for the metal movement with these guys. There are no bells and whistles, no pomp and circumstance, and no flimsy efforts with Züül; what you hear is pure metal music that at times calls upon Thin Lizzy's magical prowess meshing perfectly with some of the classic traditional sounds of the infamous NWOBHM. With a quick and razor-sharp precision, To the Frontlines captures a moment in time and provides a new and improved soundtrack for the modern metal era. Along with Speedwolf, these guys are going to keep making loud noises all over the genre. 

Each track follows a similar pattern in the basic, stripped-down galloping through barren battlefields of yesterday's influential forefathers. Whereas many bands today seem to be calling upon this artifact of a heavy metal sound, Züül manages to step up the momentum by issuing fist-banging, head-bobbing anthems like “In the Cellar” or “Show No Mercy”, which showcase the band's ability to fire on all cylinders and offer both the aging 'head and the young upstart a fine view form a bridge often buried under commercial rubble. From the standard riffs to the resonating guitar solos, this album finds the very best of modern heavy rock and takes the process to another level of greatness. The speedy effort of “Heavy Lover” sounds like something straight off the old Mausoleum label's itinerary, and if you're not familiar with it you're simply missing out. This track here is the catalyst for a past greatness that is revisited with the utmost care and diligence. The thick wall of sound that Züül produces within these songs pretty much covers the ground and simmers before ascending slowly towards the ceiling in a sort of bluish haze that's too perfect for textual summarizing. 

Once “Skullsplitter” passes into the headphones I immediately backpedal to my Thin Lizzy comparison, only with much more viable speed and intensity, though the Gorham-like riffs and tones are ever prevalent. With a high-intensity output of that caliber, the slowdown of “Of the Fallen” is a welcome instrumental 'lull' that fools you into thinking you're in for a respite, only to be dropped face first into “Bounty Land”, a sort of anthem-like effort that marches along rather nicely. Vocalist Brett Batteau has that familiar even tone that sounds so British Metal it's hard to fathom this being a new release, but rest assured it is and Züül is one of the bands for the new generation that you simply need to hear. 

There's no sophomore jinx here, people - To the Frontlines encompasses all of the antiquity of the distant past and the relevant tenacity of today's take-no-prisoners metal assault for the perfect sound in an imperfect period. Stop wishing for the past to come alive and rejuvenate the spirit with some classic rock 'n roll.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

(Originally written for www.metalpsalter.com)