In more recent years, the death metal genre has tried to really expand upon more chilling, cosmic themes in it’s quest to become more ‘weird’ and dissonant. Admittedly, seeing the self-description of “pyscosmic deathgrind’ to accompany the promo materials for NEFAS didn’t really provide much of a push to check it out. Which is unfortunate, because upon hearing more of their 3-song EP debut Oblation ov Obliteration, it was (un)pleasantly surprisingly in the sense that the new act could not only fire off the technical/dissonant flurry that the genre expects, but they found a way to make it seem genuinely unnerving and eerie at times.
At just over 14-minutes and three songs, Oblation ov Obliteration doesn’t have time to get old, but it does have enough time to leave a solid and lasting impression. The way that the band wraps together elements from a large variety of extreme metal (death, grind, black) and swirls them into cohesive and technical chaos is done in such a way that it’s still digestible. The way this is done for the most part is with some massive, Morbid Angel-esque grooves, such as in “Mindstream Transference,” where they are used before the group descends into blastbeat-driven angular riff madness. It gives those who don’t care for the ‘more tech-y than thou’ approach some time to settle while keeping the musicianship level high.
Another intriguing piece to NEFAS is the vocals. Where many groups in this subgenre tend to settle on one or two approaches, a quick listen to “Spiral Degradation” gives you a wealth of diverse options, from hardcore-esque barks to shrieks to guttural lows. It’s another weapon at their disposal to keep the listener engaged while the music approaches claustrophobic intensity. Eerie riff patterns and melodies in this track also illustrate the more unsettling side of the group. Some of the guitar sounds feel honestly alien at times, with sci-fi leanings and atmosphere that come across more chilling than exploratory. It’s more space as a desolate and frightening vibe than a simply dissonant one, and it’s a very strong suit if the band continues to pursue this element further.
For those who want something extreme yet diverse and eerie without being too abstract, NEFAS provides a suitable welcome. Oblation ov Obliteration can dig in with technical chops and grooves, but they make it more unique by their unsettling use of eerie riffs and melodies to give it that ‘cosmic’ spin, but not quite in the same way that some other groups have recently employed. It’s a promising debut that should turn some ears within the extreme metal community.