Hailing from the home of death metal. Swedish natives, Orbit Culture’s ascension in the scene over the past five years has been a fairly rapid one. As despite having formed all the way back in 2013, it wasn’t until the release of Nija in 2020 that they began to garner the attention they deserve.
Since then, they’ve been deftly climbing the ranks. Supporting the likes of Slipknot, Trivium and Bullet For My Valentine. Stepping out of the underground and firmly into the spotlight. While their live performances have always been rock solid. The bands studio output hasn’t been quite as consistent. Often occupying the awkward grey area of being good, but never truly great. Until now…
The first thing that hits you during the albums opening track, Inferna. Is the production. It may not be dripping in operatic backing vocals. Yet, what it lacks in layers of synthesised mayhem. It more than makes up for by ensuring the meat and potatoes of a great metal album, the guitar and drum sounds, are absolutely top notch.
The guitar sound in particular is thicker than your favourite goth mommy’s thighs. Combining the grit of Clayman era In Flames with the clockwork low end of Meshuggah. Bringing Richard Hansson and Niklas Karlsson’s impressive handiwork right to the front of the mix. Which, underpinned with the full force of Christopher Wallerstedt’s drumming, lays a very solid foundation.
Orbit Culture seem to have been taking a few songwriting notes while they’ve been out on the road too. With the chorus of Bloodhound in particular having more than a slight air of Slipknot about it. Breaking up the songs staccato, chugging rhythm with powerful, anthemic moments that slot into place perfectly. Giving Karlsson room to flex his vocal muscles, as well as his unerringly tight picking hand.
Fans of the Gothenburg sound need not hold their heads in dismay however. Death Above Life still wears those influences on its sleeve in equal measure too. From the symphonic introduction and ascending lead lines of Tales of War. To the vicious blast beat break in Hydra. Orbit Culture having been slowly shifting their weight towards the more melodic side of death metal for a while. Meaning all the ingredients you’d expect to find in a great melo-death album are present and correct too. Delivered with an added level of polish that puts the recent output of the genre’s biggest names to shame.
On top of all the grandiose chorus lines and melodic moments. There’s also a deeply industrial overtone running through Death Above Life. It’s most evident on the album’s title track. Which has particularly harsh, mechanical tempo. However, it permeates through in varying degrees across the entire record. Leaving you feeling as though you’re trapped deep in the bowels of some kind of malevolent production line. Your senses overwhelmed by the harsh, metallic pounding of unseen and unholy machinery. Adding yet more nuance to an album already brimming with promise.
While all these elements have been part of Orbit Cultures sound from the beginning. They have never felt as cohesive and well executed as they do during Death Above Life’s 53-minute runtime. Every track hits home with a level of heft and precision that makes it impossible to hit the skip button. Locking you in until it’s inevitable conclusion.
What a conclusion it is too. The albums finale, The Path I Walk. Is easily the most cathartic, emotional moment of Death Above Life. Maybe even the bands entire back catalogue. Wrought with reflection and regret. It pulls at heart strings you had long forgotten thanks to the maelstrom that precedes it. Reminding you that the heart of the machine you’ve been trapped within for the last hour still beats with the same fragility as your own.
Make no mistakes, it doesn’t reinvent the wheel in any wider sense, but the end result is an album that sinks it’s hooks in deep. Gripping you with dark, mechanical grooves. Powerful, unyielding and begging to be replayed, preferably at high volume. Orbit Culture now have an album they can consider their magnum opus. Placing them firmly in contention as one of the genres heaviest hitters.
Death Above Life is available to stream or buy on CD/Vinyl now via Century Media Records. For more information on Orbit Culture. Including their upcoming UK/EU tour, you can head over to their official website. Or, Follow them on social media to stay up to date on any forthcoming announcements.
