Viscera are something of a UK metal supergroup. Members played in melodic death thrashers Sylosis, progressive metalcore act Heart of a Coward and deathcore brutes Martyr Defiled. They're back with the title track of forthcoming debut LP Obsidian, which drops March 6, 2020 on Unique Leader Records.
The record's home ain't exactly a surprise. Vocalist Jamie Graham initially left Heart of a Coward to focus on family and work, and running the label is his latest job. Fortunately, Viscera's sound fits right in with the technical death metal/deathcore for which Unique Leader has become known.
"Obsidian" opens with a Meshuggah-esque groove that follows the "Bleed" formula of steadily bending higher before breaking into a Swede-on-speed riff not far off from the likes of As Blood Runs Black or Within the Ruins. However, less typical of the label is the soaring singing of the chorus, though it manages to maintain brawn throughout. A shredding solo splits in the middle for a more melancholic section. Meanwhile, the song-ending brutal breakdown also features some tasteful keys laid atop.
Graham explains why Viscera chose the song as a single and what it means to him lyrically.
We’re really excited to show you our second single, the title track of our debut album Obsidian. This is a slightly longer track with a more melodic side and some tasty twin lead work from Ross and Adam respectively! There’s some pretty heavy songs on this album but we thought we’d not go for something that showcases every side of the band.
The song’s about dealing with personal trauma and how a monumental change can often be a huge blessing in disguise. The "obsidian tide" is the mental tidal wave that hits you when you’re at your darkest. But the tide always goes out and comes back in, such is life!
The whole Obsidian album touches on that process of struggle vs strength; how love can make someone feel incredibly powerful, but also make them dangerously vulnerable. There are stages of gaining this strength and they often involve going through hell to get there.
You can hear the diverse banger via the lyric video below, done by Dylan Gould of Brand of Sacrifice, whose guitarist Leo Valeri mixed and mastered the release.
The band aren't going to wait for fans to find them, though. They're heading out a mammoth tour next March with Decapitated, Beyond Creation, label mates Ingested and Lorna Shore. Dates can be found below.
3/6 Berlin, DE – Lido
3/7 Hamburg, DE – Bahnhof Pauli
3/8 Aarhus, DK – Voxhall
3/9 Hannover, DE – Bei Chéz Heinz
3/10 Oberhausen, DE – Kulttempel
3/11 Nijmegen, NL – Doornroosje
3/12 London, UK – ULU
3/13 Glasgow, UK – Slay
3/14 Manchester, UK – Club Academy
3/15 Birmingham, UK – Mama Roux’s
3/16 Bristol, UK – The Fleece
3/17 Southampton, UK – The Loft
3/18 Aarschot, BY – De Klinker Club
3/19 Paris, FR – La Trabendo
3/20 Aarau, CH – KiFF
3/21 Karlsruhe, DE – Weisse Rose
3/22 Milan, IT – Slaughter Club
3/23 Munich, DE – Backstage
3/24 Vienna, AT – Viper Room
3/25 Budapest, HU – Dürer Kert
3/26 Prague, CZ – Nova Chmelnice
3/27 Wroclaw, PL – Pralnia
3/28 Dresden, DE – Puschkin
