Pyre - Where Obscurity Sways (2025)

When I look back at the metal albums that end up my favorites for a particular year, there's a pretty even division between those that are innovative and unique while staying catchy, and others that just do a great job doubling down on a pre-established sound and writing damn good songs. In the case of Where Obscurity Sways, the third full length from Russia's Pyre, it was the latter. The album's title is eerily prescient since I'm the only person I've even seen mentioning this one...perhaps it should be dubbed Where Obscurity Stays. But in 2025, this was the metal disc I returned to the most, like a death metal 'comfort food', because I enjoyed all of the songs a lot. It's also a great evolutionary stride for their own style, keeping consistent with its forebears while offering something new, something better for the band.

Pyre's still performing a sound rooted in the later 80s or early 90s, a perfect blend of Florida death metal like Obituary or Death, Dutch oldies from Pestilence and Asphyx, with a little bit of the Swedish style of an Entombed or Dismember, only with the guitar tone dialed back a little. You know it's still there, because there's a great chunkiness to the slower grooves, and a smooth roil when they pick up the pace. But it's nowhere near the gruesome or fleshy style they had on Human Hecatomb or the EP. The riff-lines and leads here are easily the best they've done to this point, whether it's the awesome verse grooves of "From the Stygian Depths" which recall Slowly We Rot, or "Murderous Transcendence" which is an amazing tune that hits pretty much all the bases, from sinister harmonies to flawless double kicks. The riffs in cuts like "Domains of the Nameless Rites" or "Pestilential Fumes" are just perfect throwback patterns, evil and memorable and set up against strong songwriting which emphasizes some variety at every turn.

There's a new drummer here, Oleg, and he's phenomenal, not that his predecessor was weak by any means, but I feel like the entire rhythm section, not just the percussion but also the bass mix, is way better balanced and creates a framework that could thrive independently, even without the awesome array of riffs that last the album's 35 minute duration. Where Obscurity Sways follows Chained to Ossuaries in having the smoother production than the older albums, but I can't imagine it any other way, the material is just suited to being mildly more accessible, and it's not like there is any commercialization or obnoxious level of polish...the music is still dark, mysterious, and classic in a way I just love my death metal records. I'm reminded a little of Necrovation's eponymous 2012 sophomore, not only because the aesthetics are similar, but also because it's just an awesome experience when I'm in the mood for the genre and want something well-written and balanced without being too ridiculous. I love this record. It's nothing new at all, but I would like for more people to get to experience it. My #1 for this last year.

Verdict: Epic Win [9.25/10]

https://pyredeathmetal.bandcamp.com/