For years now, the underground label of Transcending Obscurity Records has long been one that I’ve been in love with ever since hearing releases from bands like The Dead, Toxoid, and Rectified Spirit. Since then, the small label has grown exponentially and become infinitely better in every single way! Much like at the tail end of 2016, the label has gathered hours worth of material from bands with new material in the works to give us a taste of what we can expect to see released in the future, and the future sounds fucking badass!
Even though Transcending Obscurity is based out of the seemingly unnoteworthy country of India, the label has made an impeccable name for themselves as they’ve signed very prolific bands and names of all sorts from Swedish death machines Paganizer, becoming very familiar of members and past members of bands like Bolt Thrower and Death, and the modern legend of Fetid Zombie (whose sole member Mark Riddick is a true staple of modern death metal art). Those are no pushovers, and TO continues to bring forth acts brand new and well known from all corners of metal to create a catalog that’s not only very full but also brimming with every sort of talent imaginable. This sampler is a perfect demonstration of the genius that TO has when it comes to signing potentially great acts as the 36 different bands featured on this compilation all stick to their own personal styles be it straight death metal, atmospheric doom metal, black metal that’s not afraid to get experimental, grind that really knows how to make your fucking brain melt or thrash metal that can melt the skin right off your bones. All that and more come in brilliant detail with this sampler, and it all provides for hours upon hours of head-banging goodness.
For me, the really interesting part of this sampler is how some bands are featured here who haven’t even officially announced signing with TO, and there are some exclusive first looks here on this sampler from album’s we haven’t heard hide nor hair of. The new names to TO like Down Among the Dead Men, Nattravnen, Lurk, P.H.O.B.O.S., and Arche along with familiar acts such as Illimitable Dolor and Henry Kane make their triumphant returns within this sampler to really make it much more than a treat for longtime fans of the label such as myself, but it also provides a perfect look into the working of TO for newcomers. These 36 bands have the own ups and downs, and really know how to put on a true show as TO brings them all together in splendid fashion that really allows the label to showcase the talent that they’re keeping secret for now, and I can say for certain that it’s all well worth the wait for now. That’s more than enough to get my blood pumping as I can’t wait to see what else this label has in store for me like it has for the past three years!
Easily, Transcending Obscurity is my favorite label in all of metal as they never once disappoint from one release to the next. The last two years of releases has seen personal favorites of mine come to my attention like Primitiv, Fetid Zombie, Mindkult, Rudra, Soothsayer, and Heathen Beast in exquisite detail, and while none of them adorn this year’s sampler I know that 2018 will be another flagship year for Transcending Obscurity has Arkheth, Towards Atlantis Lights, and Et Moriemur have already blown me right off my fucking feet! I can’t wait to hear what else there is to lap up, and I can’t help but recommend that you stayed tuned alongside me as Transcending Obscurity dishes out one tantalizing album of pure excellence after another.
LISTEN to the sampler that is NAME YOUR PRICE on Bandcamp here.
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LISTEN to new material from Transcending Obscurity via YouTube here.
Head-Banger Reviews 