Metalcatto
It’s time to review a band I have no prior knowledge about—a statement that, for a reviewer, borders on the embarrassing. Lucky for you, I have very little shame left. Blackwater Drowning (a wonderfully evocative name) arrives with their album Obscure Sorrows, and to be fair, the proposal is at least intriguingly enigmatic. So, let’s see if this album can rescue me from the near-permanent state of critical numbness that sets in after doing this for more years than I’d care to admit. Enough professional bitterness, however; let’s try to approach this with an open mind and see if we can find some genuine cheer in the music.
This album sounds like what might have happened if Arch Enemy had fully embraced a Metalcore direction, infused with a speck of Leprous‘s progressive sensibility, but most importantly, with a committed focus on crafting emotionally engaging and turbulent work. Blackwater Drowning demonstrates a clear skill for writing songs that are complex in their emotional architecture, where no single style is allowed to dominate. The melodic Death Metal foundations gracefully give way to Metalcore elements in a synthesis that feels enjoyable and thoughtfully constructed rather than lazily derivative. For a substantial portion of the runtime, I actually forgot I was listening to something designed to be broadly accessible—a testament to its compelling execution.
The riffing throughout Obscure Sorrows is potent and dry, benefiting from a crisp, modern Death Metal production sheen that wouldn’t sound out of place on a recent Cryptopsy album. Yet, the vocals are arguably the most captivating element here. They explore a dynamic range and raw intensity that, frankly, Arch Enemy should have ventured toward years ago (no, this comparison and slight bash is not meant to be discreet). So, with things working so effectively, what is there left to critique? Surely, I must find some fault.
Alright, so here is my somewhat snobbish impression: the album’s first half feels notably stronger. While the second half remains good, it leans more heavily on those quintessential Metalcore breakdowns—a stylistic device that polarizes my personal taste more fiercely than a subreddit debating the merits of the “Big Four” Thrash bands. This reliance causes the back end of the album to wiggle and meander a bit more, as Obscure Sorrows ultimately revisits its own winning formula one too many times. This repetition becomes perceptible, especially to a jaded, soulless reviewer who consumes music on a daily basis, craving constant surprise.
In the end, Obscure Sorrows defies simple categorization. It is not purely Metalcore, MeloDeath, or Symphonic Metal; it is something compellingly in-between. Blackwater Drowning is a band that seriously deserves your attention for its ambitious blend and clear creative drive. Although the album may not achieve perfect cohesion for my specific tastes, it is remarkably different in its willingness to experiment and fuse genres with genuine creativity. The ambition and skill on display are far more exciting than another by-the-numbers release. So, consider this a strong recommendation to dive in. Now, enough talking—your allotted smoke break is officially over; go back to the sweatshop.
Label: Bleeding Art Collective
Release date: February 27, 2026
Website: https://www.facebook.com/blackwaterdrowning
Country: USA
Score: 3.7/5.0
Metal Eclipse Reviews 