This is the fifth album from Nailed to Obscurity, a melodic metal metal band from Germany.
Following on from 2019’s Black Frost, Generation of the Void brings us 58 minutes of new material from Nailed to Obscurity. The band have been busy since their last record, refining their sound, delivering a comprehensive musical package that sees them stepping up their game to the next level.
Generation of the Void boasts a wider, more expansive vision for Nailed to Obscurity. The album has a synth-enriched cinematic sound, with a greater focus on hooks, melody, and engaging atmosphere. It has a progressive edge in places, and remains steeped in melancholic moods.
The band’s overall style still combines elements of melodic metal/death/doom, although the emphasis has shifted a little, as we’ll see. For a starting point for Generation of the Void, think Dark Tranquillity, Katatonia, In Flames, Insomnium, In Mourning, In Vain, Opeth, Paradise Lost, etc. as appropriate references. Nailed to Obscurity’s core style is the same, just…improved, I suppose. It’s as simple as that really – the band have raised their quality levels across the board.
You can tell that Nailed to Obscurity have put the work in. The songwriting is tighter and more concise, and generally a bit more accessible in nature. Having said that, this is still music with ample depth and substance to it. Despite the greater accessibility and catchiness of the material, Generation of the Void is still an album that offers more than empty radio friendly hits; Nailed to Obscurity are better than that, and have created a collection of songs that strike a good balance between instant appeal and delayed gratification. These are songs that grow better and better over time; the more you visit them, the more their melodic hooks dig deep.
The well-crafted songs are satisfying and easy to digest. The album flows nicely, providing the listener with a melodic journey that holds up well against the efforts of the band’s peers. The vocals continue to mix expressive growls and well-performed cleans, but the latter are more abundant on these new songs. It varies by track though, with some favouring one delivery method or the other, depending on the needs of the music. I like the singer’s voice a great deal.
Generation of the Void is a strong album. I like it even more than I expected to. Nailed to Obscurity have produced a professional, high quality record that’s benefits from multiple spins. The well-written songs have a lot to offer fans of melodic death and doom metal, and there’s much to explore and reward here. I look forward to getting to know this even better over time.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 