Metalcatto
I usually do everything in my power to dodge traditional Heavy Metal. It just feels like everything has been said and done a thousand times over. However, Ravenspell‘s Obsidian King claims there’s something more to say in the wacky, bloated history of the style. As you can tell, my hopes are buried somewhere below realistic, but the job is the job, right? It’s time to go on.
Your first question might be how nerdy this thing is going to make me look in front of so-called adults. Well, I’d say it lands at a socially acceptable level. Obsidian King is full of chunky riffs produced with warmth and care for the craft. It has epic touches here and there, but it’s mostly a display of attitude. Relax, though—it doesn’t get too edgy or try too hard to prove anything. The guitar tone alone carries a certain confidence that speaks louder than any theatrical posturing could.
You get the usual epic stories glorifying ancient times, of which we know nothing except what fanfiction has told us. In reality, those eras were probably nothing as glamorous or hygienic as the music would have us believe. Having said that, the songwriting is genuinely fun. Everything has a kind of comforting feeling that could probably soothe more than one anxious soul. Imagine Jet Jaguar but more sober and discreet—less about the leather and spikes, more about the riffs themselves.
There’s nothing here I particularly hate or feel strongly negative about, but perhaps that’s the issue. Obsidian King is consistent without being surprising. Anyone who has picked up an album from the 80s or 90s knows exactly what’s happening here, even if it’s executed with better musicianship than most albums in the niche. That’s fine, but it makes my memory of the tracks go blurrier than opioids. Nothing sticks out enough to demand a return visit, even if the visit itself was pleasant enough.
Okay, I’ve been extra snarky today, but Obsidian King is still an entertaining ride. Especially if you’re trying to get into Heavy Metal in its old school form and just can’t stand the more exaggerated corners of the genre. Ravenspell might help ease the pain of entry. It’s not too corny, and it takes itself with a decent amount of seriousness. That balance alone is rare enough for you to care, right? Sometimes you don’t need innovation—you just need someone to do the old thing well, with warmth and without embarrassment.
Label: Fighter Records
Release date: March 23, 2026
Website https://www.facebook.com/ravenspellofficial
Country: Canada
Score: 3.5/5.0
Metal Eclipse Reviews 