Obiat Premiere “Acid Wake” Video; New LP Later This Year
Obiat are currently gearing up for the release later this year of their fourth album, Indian Ocean. It is the band’s first offering since 2009’s Eye Tree Pi (review here), and their first to see founding guitarist Rafal Reutt as the lone remaining original member of the group. Joined by drummer Neil Dawson and bassist Alex Nervo, who played on the last LP, and vocalist Sean Cooper, Reutt would seem to be approaching Indian Ocean with renewed intent, as the initial singles “Sea Burial” (which came out in March) and “Acid Wake” (premiering in the video below) demonstrate.
If the pandemic — maybe you’ve heard something about it? — played a role in Obiat coming back together and Reutt restructuring the band, I have no idea, but they wouldn’t be the first. In truth, it’s been long enough since Eye Tree Pi that Nervo and Cooper could’ve joined anytime in the better part of the last decade and you’d say it was fair enough. One way or the other, the band retains its adventurous sonic spirit, bringing in newer Alice in Chains-style harmonies on “Acid Wake” and the Pallbearer vibes that give way to sax and trombone on the black-metal-meets-jazz surprise apex of “Sea Burial,” all with the backing of a heavy roll that calls to mind some of what Hum brought to bear in their return last year, while maintaining room for arrangement flourishes like the horns or the flute that shows up in “Acid Wake.”
These things fit, it’s important to note, and are more nuance than novelty in how they work alongside the heavier and airier flow conjured by the rest of the band. If Cooper is brand new alongside Reutt and Nervo and Dawson, he doesn’t sound it. Rather, Obiat are cohesive and full in these two tracks in a way that only bodes well for Indian Ocean to come, and while I don’t know the state of the album or the release plans for it when it’s done — I think Chris Fielding (Conan, many others) was finishing the master at Foel — there’s plenty here to consider encouraging.
Quote from the band follows the premiere of the “Acid Wake” video below.
Please enjoy:
Obiat, “Acid Wake” official video premiere
Obiat on “Acid Wake”:
We’re absolutely buzzing to be putting this out and seeing our efforts finally come together over the last 18 months, especially with us not having one live band rehearsal. Sean’s now up front and we’re blown away with what he’s brought to the band/record. We can’t wait to unleash the entire album (Indian Ocean) when it’s ready. We’ve got an array of guests and plenty more riffage and beats to rattle your bones/eardrums.
‘A wreck of broken bones, you sail upon will take you home.’
Official video for ‘Acid Wake’, taken from Obiat’s upcoming album ‘Indian Ocean’ (2021).
Feat. Arek Kasprzak – Bamboo Flutes.
Recorded throughout 2020-2021 in UK and Australia.
Mixed and Mastered by Chris Fielding at Foel Studio in Wales.
Animations by Daniele Arcuri.
Obiat is:
Alex Nervo – Bass
Neil Dawson – Drums
Raf Reutt – Guitars
Sean Cooper – Vocals
Massive thank you for support !!!!