Review: Obtest – Gyvybës Medis (2008)

Folk metal is always a genre I find to be fresh and exhilarating. Virtually every album I have listened to has at least some redeeming qualities, mainly because most of the music is so complex and symphonic in nature, that it requires writers and musicians alike who are up to the challenge. The few bands who I don’t find myself getting into usually don’t have the breadth in sound to really take on the task of creating memorable riffs (or even good ones). My latest venture into folk metal is through a Lithuanian up and comer by the name of Obtest. For all intensive purposes Obtest has the right stuff; they have the harsh but still heartfelt vocalist, a slew of great instrumentalists. However, unlike many of their peers in Western Europe, Obtest just doesn’t have the same level of songwriting capabilities. It was bound to happen at some point, right?

Before I go on, I need to say that while there will be criticisms in this review, Obtest is not a bad band…not even close, however, the downside of being in a band, is that your output will inevitably be compared to that of your peers, and if your peers are fucking good at what they do, you may come out suffering in the end, such is the case with Obtest.

Their latest album Gyvybës Medis combines the previously mentioned folk with black metal and a dose of power metal melodies. The record throughout, is not especially atmospheric which is an immedate downside, the second shortcoming on this album is the noticeable lack of traditional instruments. Is this a prerequisite? No, there is no such thing in metal, but when your obvious choice in sound is a blackened folk sound, it only lends to your quality to bring in traditional instruments in order to truly justify the folk moniker (which, realistically, is a simple label given by fans and critics, so this isn’t really the fault of the band). Bands who survive without traditional instruments whilst maintaining a folk vibe is obviously Wintersun, and the now defunct Einherjer who both play extremely heavy pagan metal with varying degrees of sub-genres thrown in. The big difference between bands like Wintersun and Obtest, is that they know exactly where their sound lies and how to execute it with as much atmosphere and emotion as possible. Obtest is certainly capable of making some magnificent music given the talent of it’s musicians, but until they figure out whether they want to be epic like Ensiferum and Turisas or a tad more traditional and perhaps basic like Wintersun, I’m afraid they’ll be stuck meandering from album to album. Obtest does have a back discography, and if it’s provides better incites into the band’s true potential, more power to them (which I will definitely be looking into), but if not, then that only solidifies this review even more.

GOOD

Top Tracks: Gyvybës Medis, Ákaitai

Similar Artists: Wintersun, Eluveitie, Einherjer

1.    Apeigos    05:31
2.    Vedlys    04:24
3.    Ðviesa    06:07
4.    Gyvybës Medis    05:43
5.    Sakalo Vaikai    03:47
6.    Àþuolas    04:03
7.    Geleþinis Vilkas    04:47
8.    Tai Ne Pabaiga    04:56
9.    Ákaitai    03:56

Sadlave (Evaldas Babenskas) – guitar
Baalberith – vocals
Demonas (Artur Gusev) – bass
Insmuth – drums
Enrikas Slavinskis – guitars

Osmose Productions
http://www.obtest.lt/

http://www.myspace.com/obtestofficial

Reviewed by CODY