(We present Daniel Barkasi‘s review of a new album by Tómarúm, which will be released on April 4th via Prosthetic Records.)
When it comes to the more progressive side of music, no matter the amalgamation, the albums that take one on a journey are the ones that tend to stick in yours truly’s brain. Case in point: Atlanta’s Tómarúm burst onto the scene in 2022 with a mammoth slab of progressive black metal via Ash in Realms of Stone Icons that seemingly came out of nowhere. Sure, their 2020 EP Wounds Ever Expanding showed plenty of promise, but we didn’t predict a debut full-length so mature, potent, and expertly crafted.
Since then, guitarists/vocalists Kyle Walburn and Brandon Iacovella started a fascinating death/doom project in Lunar Chamber, and have been getting Tómarúm out there on the road with regularity. We managed to catch them once, and it was a memorable, hair-raising experience of intensity and technical precision.
Inevitably, the time for album number two has arrived, and with that brings the usual contemplation – can they build off of their massive debut and knock it out of the park again, or will growing pains become evident? A task especially difficult for a band who displayed such nuance and veteran-level songwriting prowess on Ash in Realms of Stone Icons. Additionally, the band officially became a five-piece within the last few years, and as a result, we have what is the band’s first written material in that formation outside of just Walburn and Iacovella, who previously were the sole craftsmen of Tómarúm.
The resultant is Beyond Obsidian Euphoria, a concept album that connects to Ash in Realms of Stone Icons by way of a long and winding exploration of inner strength and rising from the ashes of turmoil. If there was any trepidation about how ambitious this record would be, that inquiry is firmly answered by the expansive opener “In Search of the Triumph Beyond… (Obsidian Overture).” A dazzling composition that’s equal parts beauty and ferocity, we’re presented with a dense layered song that has more nooks and crannies than a Thomas’ English muffin.
Walburn, Iacovella and now third guitarist Matthew Longerbeam waste no time shredding our collective faces off by way of cutting riffs and dazzling lead work, while the tempo cleverly dances from full-on aggression to dreamlike in an instant, yet never feels jerky. Longerbeam adds an additional flair to proceedings, further diversifying an already varied sound. Bassist Michael Sanders’ thumping and slick bass lines add much to the low end, while the clean vocal harmonies add additional dimensions while not becoming dominant. Not once shy to try new things, though wisely their base of forward-thinking black metal continues to be at the center of the band’s ethos.
A mostly instrumental track – with spoken word bits for good measure – in “Introspection III” acts as a narrative bridge to “Shallow Ecstasy,” similar to the usage of “Introspection I” and “Introspection II” that worked so nicely on Ash in Realms of Stone Icons. Said connecting entry “Shallow Ecstasy” fires in the realm of quickly moving melodic black metal, while also boasting a chorus of emotive shouts and pain-filled screams. Drummer Chris Stropoli’s percussive talents shine brightly here, driving the song’s urgent tone.
Lead single “Shed this Erroneous Skin” follows, weaving blackened death metal brutality whilst leaning further toward Tómarúm’s progressive interests by way of acoustics and ever-morphing song structures. With so much happening all the time, it’s notable that a firmly tight coherence is felt throughout Beyond Obsidian Euphoria. For all of the elements that are thrown into the blackened blender that is Tómarúm, it’s quite a feat to do so deftly and not feel disjointed in the slightest.
Variety continues to be the spice of choice as the album moves forward. For a quick shot of adrenaline, “Blood Mirage” has you with a quick-hitting, violent death metal onslaught of crushing riffage. “Halcyon Memory: Dreamscapes Across the Blue” is full of post-ish builds and crescendos, done so in the band’s trademark stylizations, including a gorgeous acoustic bridge that leads to an explosively satisfying finish.
The coup de grâce is the over 14 minute opus “The Final Pursuit of Light,” as earnest of a song as Tómarúm have produced in their still young career. The tantalizing course the piece nimbly bobs and weaves through while encapsulating the listener impresses more with each spin, with that gargantuan finale sticking like a determined facehugger.
The dreaded sophomore slump absolutely doesn’t apply to Tómarúm, who no doubt have further made their mark as one of the most exciting acts in the boundary-pushing wing of black metal. Beyond Obsidian Euphoria is decidedly Tómarúm, who have established a standout sound of their own, while also not sitting still and banking off of their previous success.
Those seeking a sub-40-minute compact album should be warned that this menace clocks in at over an hour, so the rewards are reserved for the patient. Those who decide to take on this trek will find endless elements to enrapture themselves, with repeat listens providing even more. The fearlessness and dynamism exclaimed by Beyond Obsidian Euphoria is as technically impressive as it is fervidly gratifying. Quite the achievement, again, by a band whose only limit is their own imagination; a characteristic that seems to literally have no ceiling.
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Bandcamp: https://tomarum.bandcamp.com/