From the very first note to the final echo, one thing is certain — you’re going to hear a lot of fuzzy guitars! “Obsidian Eye”, the new album by Hibernaut, is a scorched, heavy, fuzz-drenched offering to the gods of metal — a psychedelic, sludgy, doom-laden trip through the darker corners of the heavy music spectrum. This is a doom metal sacrifice on the altar of heaviness, one that feels both vintage in its roots and refreshingly modern in execution. Hailing from Salt Lake City, Utah, Hibernaut bring forth a distinctive American doom metal sound that’s angular, textured and expertly crafted. On “Obsidian Eye”, the guitars are soaked in reverb, fuzz and filth, while the vocals come with a gritty, weathered timbre. The rhythm section doesn’t just play — it falls down like a ten-ton anvil on your skull. The band launches a no-holds-barred doom metal onslaught and takes no prisoners. This album is a triumph of sludge and doom metal, a record that embraces all the signature elements of the genre while delivering everything a devoted fan could possibly hope for. Tracks like “Engorge Behemoth”, the title track “Obsidian Eye” and “Beset” build an impenetrable wall of sound — a monolithic force that crashes over the listener like a sonic avalanche. I expected something solid from Hibernaut, but this album exceeded all expectations. Mark their name — Hibernaut. Listen to “Obsidian Eye” and prepare to get punched square in the face!
♦ 8/10
Dimitris Zacharopoulos
