Style: post-metal, progressive metal, sludge metal (mixed vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Isis, Cult of Luna, Neurosis, Tool
Country: Poland
Release date: 6 January 2025
Imagine drifting serenely through torrential waters, unbothered by the crashing waves above or ripping undercurrents below. Immersed but protected, you’re calm, undulating gently amid the ocean’s mighty forces. You find tranquility in watching the surrounding chaos, until you emerge safely as the storm concludes. For half an hour, Emovere, Obscure Sphinx’s latest EP, places the listener into this suspended state.
More than eight years after their last studio work, the Polish quartet Obscure Sphinx has resurfaced with Emovere, a lengthy three-track EP. The band is fronted by Zofia “Wielebna” Fraś, a vocal powerhouse whose silky singing and raspy screams sit at the center of the band’s sound. A dark, down-tuned brand of post-metal forms the soundscape around her, oscillating fluidly between crushing and calm; tidal-wave riffs and thunderous rhythms give way to shimmering bridges, only for the water to rise again. Obscure Sphinx composes with a deft hand, knowing how and when to move the listener from one passage to the next through seamless transitions; and the band’s ever-tight musicianship and feel for rhythm elevate the compositions. The result is simply enrapturing. The album is a cathartic journey—the word ‘emovere’ loosely translates to such—that’s awe-inspiring yet soothing, and deeply resonant.
“Scarcity Hunter” begins the album ominously with drums slowly pounding, a deep bass line following, and the guitar sitting lightly on top. Fraś’s vocals drone ritualistically, while portentous whispers accent the space behind her. Right as the track is about to reach the minute mark, it opens up and pummels the listener: the guitar turns heavy and distorted, accompanied by now-crashing drums and a thick bass you can feel in your chest, with Fraś letting out her first set of magnificent screams in a tone reminiscent of Sound of Perseverance-era Chuck. But before the intensity grows overbearing, the band dials it down and delivers an excellent instrumental bridge, flexing a keen sense of timing and showcasing Emovere’s melodic side.
This measured ebb and flow between different atmospheres and dynamics is a defining characteristic of the record. The tracks unfold patiently but contain a wealth of instrumental nuance and never approach monotonous. “Scarcity Hunter” ultimately concludes with a long, Tool-inspired passage that builds deliberately behind Fraś’s elegant voice until it reaches a roaring, chill-inducing climax—one of Emovere’s musical and emotional high points. Another lengthy build into a climactic outro finishes the album in “Nethergrove,” but it doesn’t ring repetitious, thanks to fresh instrumentation and a dynamic vocal performance. “Nethergrove” is perhaps Emovere’s highlight: a thirteen-minute slow burner that meanders among harmonic peaks and depths before resolving in the album’s heaviest moment.
Providing balance between the record’s bookends is “As I Stood Upon the Shore,” the shortest and most straightforward cut of the three. Its structure somewhat resembles a more accessible verse-chorus approach while still allowing space for textural shifts and changes in tone. “As I Stood Upon the Shore” is a welcome, enjoyable listen in its own right, and more importantly it exemplifies the compositional balance Obscure Sphinx achieves in Emovere—not only within each track but also in the flow of the work as a whole.
The interplay between Fraś and the music surrounding her, enhanced by dense but pristine production, is aural velvet. When the record’s thirty minutes conclude, it’s challenging not to return to the beginning for another pass. Emovere’s primary drawback is that it’s an EP—if it ran for another twenty minutes at a similar quality, it would stand as a formidable album-of-the-year contender not a week into January. Nonetheless, Emovere commands mindful relistens, providing plenty to explore until Obscure Sphinx submerges us in its next sonic journey.
Recommended tracks: All three
You may also like: Blindead / Blindead23, Múr, E-L-R, Cavernlight
Final verdict: 8.5/10
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Label: Independent
Obscure Sphinx is:
– Michał “Blady” Rejman (bass)
– Mateusz “Werbel” Badacz (drums)
– Zofia “Wielebna” Fraś (vocals)
– Aleksander “Olo” Łukomski (guitars)
