Toughness – Black Respite of Oblivion

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Technical death metal band Toughness gave a peculiar sound similar to the Finnish band death metal Demilich, their second album, “Black Respite of Oblivion” unravels a labyrinthine song structure and old-school technical riffs. The Polish four-piece provides a precise clarity to replicate the Morbid Angel riffs' style, and some progressive elements allow the songs to morph seamlessly between the cavernous atmosphere and old-school brutality.

Most of the songs have several tempo changes and pummeling barrages of excellent blast work, and with a multitude of slow technical riffs, sometimes draw comparison to the classic tech old school death metal bands. The opening track, “Abominating the Scourge” successfully integrates these nuances while maintaining a fabulous technique, and the atmosphere is even dark and cavernous.

Not only does the music sound similar to Demilich, the growls are also close to Froggy-style vocals of Antti Boman, which is another excellent feature of this mindfuck album. Tracks like “The Profanity That Creates an Expression of Pain at the Impossibility of Ascending to the Lower Realms” are a twisting mix of calculated blast beats, and the riffs are consistent in their bizarre patterns of mid-tempo brutality.

The sonic vortex booms while the grooving madness persists through the solid technical and progressive proficiency, and the songs are often filled with contagious solos and frantic drumming work. “Black Respite of Oblivion” starts with a dark guitar vibe that combines spectacular upbeat riffing and tempo changes; this smooth progression allows immense heaviness in which the bass guitar provides.

The lead guitars are just insane throughout the album, the composition is certainly rooted in the style of early Finnish death metal bands like Convulse, Adramelech, and Dimilich. The burbling growls add another spectrum and make much of the impression to the classic lo-fi hollowness and primitivism that can be heard on “Black Respite of Oblivion” and “Embrace Blackness”.

The music provides heaviness to the balanced instruments with a sense of innovation. The drums pummel at a consistent pace, and mixing brutality and aggression, Toughness managed to craft a demented blend of technicality and death metal heaviness. “Carrion Entrails (Lost Abyssal Disbelief)” and “Condemned to Noxious Persistence” emphasize the cavernous alien atmosphere, the guitars inject the right amount of reverb from the chuggy riffs to the bizarre cosmic riffs to create atmospheric and spacey soundscapes.

Some of the dissonant riffs remind me of early Cynic, Gorguts, and Atheist, but Toughness allows its composition to fester to a full extent; at the same time, the band carries a remarkable skill and proficiency. Even song titles like “Condemned to Noxious Persistence” and “From the Shroud of Human Disgrace” are deranged and bring some grisly imagination of otherworldly and extra-terrestrial beings.

The sonic complexity of these songs is meticulously carried through heaviness and creeps in coherently with the guitar rhythms. The band’s musical identity emphasizes the uniqueness of the composition, capturing creativity and a spacey death metal sound in a compelling performance.

Black Respite of Oblivion” may not convey authenticity, but the Polish squad is the only band that replicated the style of Demilich with a level of dexterity; these arrangements are perfectly interwoven to leave the listener wondering at the atmospheric arrangements.

Open Wounds of the Forgotten Planet” is outstanding, showcasing the grand level of sophistication which focuses on the dynamic range of the pummeling drums and sporadic blast beats while the riffs on the final track “Vile Unrelenting Miscreancy” never ceases to impress me with the sleek lead guitar work and the dark riffing that is backed by the guttural filth.

REVIEW SCORE

  • Music / Songwriting 9/10
  • Vocals / Lyrics 10/10
  • Mix / Production 10/10
  • Artwork & Packaging 8/10
  • Originality 8/10
9

This is an outstanding piece of alien-styled death metal, and easily one of my favorite albums of the year. Toughness’ second full-length album deserves your immediate attention.

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