There seems to be more to Washington DC than just politics…there is also melodic death metal! We look at Oberris‘ new EP ‘Honored‘.

[tracklist]
01. To Ashes
02. The Unabiding
03. Red Star
[/tracklist]

[details]
[record_label]Independent[/record_label]
[release_date]27th January 2016[/release_date]
[/details]

We know for a fact that some fine Death Metal is made in the USA. But not since Trivium’s ‘Ascendency‘ have we seen a fine melodic death metal release, a genre that’s generally left to the European’s to refine and present to the world here. Oberris of Washington DC are giving it another go here with their 3-track EP ‘Honored‘.

It’s almost instantly regonisable through the opening notes of ‘To Ashes‘ that there is a distinct European melodic death metal sound. Think something in the vein of Insomnium that meets the more technical riffing side of metalcore. Influences are clearly present on the album, but what is very respectable about the EP is that there are audacious attempts to forge a more unique sound with the tracks. This is the kind of valiance that shot Trivium to fame in Europe while having no American market to back them.

The track ‘The Unabiding‘ is the stand-out one here that screams ‘Europe market’, with thunderous drums syncing the technical riffing and the tracks progression demonstrating the versatility of the band, while maintaining it’s melodic core. It is further helped by a perfectly executed solo that is nothing less than a grand ol’ shredfest!

It’s the production and the execution of the vocals that could use a little work on ‘Honored‘, but there is some huge promise here. The band will get bigger, and as soon as they can get a larger production going, there will be some big things in store for Oberris.

[verdict]Yes[/verdict]
[why]Oberris have crafted a single lane of dual-channel influence tapping some fine metalcore elements while making it presentable as melodic death metal. A good effort![/why]