Czech Republic’s OBLOMOV have an intriguing enough premise: they’re a black/death hybrid with sci-fi themed lyrics and overtone. However, that’s just about where their uniqueness ends: what you’re gonna get with this CD is adequate yet average metal that doesn’t really distinguish itself from its peers.

For those of you not up on your Russian lit, OBLOMOV took their name from an Ivan Goncharov novel whose eponymous character rarely ever left his house and spends the first 150 pages of the book in bed. Well, the name’s pretty appropriate here, because after the cool sounding synth intro, this album really doesn’t go anywhere either. The vocals are of the one-dimensional black metal growl variety, and the song structures start to sound pretty familiar after a while. Production-wise, you’ve got the dry crunch and triggered drums that have been Century Media’s calling card for the past decade. All in all, the whole thing sounds like a rip off of bands like OLD MAN’S CHILD and ROTTING CHRIST, minus of course the aggression and catchy riffs of these bands.

Though I realize I’m being rough, I’m also not saying that I’ll never listen to this album again. There are some intriguing parts, such as the saxophone solos in “Starsend”, easily the best song on the album. Hell, these guys may one day come up with the next “In Defiance of Existence” but they need to step up the aggression and innovation before that happens. Bottom line, although this isn’t a very metal thing to do, I’m gonna quote Randy Jackson on this one: it’s just alright, man.

- Cardona

OFFICIAL SITE: www.oblomov.cz

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