“Old skull death metal” from France anyone? The EC Comics inspired artwork is enough to draw anyone into OSDM into the realms of Putrid Flesh and an inverted cross on a tombstone inside the cover with HM 2 written on it gives you a clue that this will have a certain SweDeath scuzz about it. It seems that this is primarily the work of Julien Helwin who has been in various outfits including live incarnations of Agressor and the UK’s own Mithras. However, there are photos of a full band and so obviously he has had some help with participators including an ex Great Old Ones bassist along with some guests laying out solos and occasional vocal lines. This is the band’s second album following on from last year’s Forged Faith Bleeding.

The melodic lines that introduce to Servants Of Oblivion reek of Carcass before that crust laden HM2 sound hones in and we are taken off into a battering and gnarly romp. Vocals are hoarse and guttural and skulls should be banging around the graveyard and bouncing off the tombstones. It’s a good 3 and a bit minute opener that gets you enthusiastic about what is coming next, the guitar solo in its midst by one guest Sylver being particularly noteworthy. It is some somewhat bluesy riffs with an Entombed like feel about them on ‘Relinquished Flesh’ and at this point one feels like the album is going to be a romp from beginning to end. This proves to not be the actual case as ‘Demonic Enn’ (whatever that is) is one of several tracks that stalk and shuffle cadaverously out the mausoleum and lumber off in search of flesh with a rancid Autopsy like crawl. Obviously, Julien favours both the hammer smashing and doom-laden facets of DM and likes mixing things up. No real problem with that although you should be prepared for the rottenness here to take a break from the galloping to a more plodding nature.

Strong melodicism and a bouncy groove power through ‘Purity Through Blasphemy’ and the move from gloom to a more upbeat chugger is actually a welcome one. However, you do have to be prepared for death to come creeping up on you slowly again a little way down the line, the 8-minute plus ‘Death and the Reaper’s Scythe’ being a case in point. Guitar lines at times have that Amott vibe about them and this could cross over from the Carcass to a sound that fans of bands such of Arch Enemy may appreciate if they are looking for something a little harder. There are some good tunes here without doubt. My one real problem is that it could have done with another short one at the end and really romped it home leaving the listener enthusiastic and looking at playing it again. Final piece ‘Convicted Faith’ is just too slow and deadbeat and kind of wears you down. It’s not a bad track by any means, I just like my DM albums to go out with a bang and a crunch but perhaps that is more of a personal thing.

(7/10 Pete Woods)

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