You want to escape but you don’t know when
Idiots and sycophants keep you emotionally trapped in
Little boys express your art through vicarious expressions
Stolen emotions off your depression
Rising from the murky underbelly of Florida’s deathrock scene, Obsidian, with the enigmatic Missy Mortis at the helm, releases a powerful new LP accompanied by a striking music video. “19 Dead” stands as a mournful homage, honoring the memory of nineteen souls who have passed since the band’s formation in 2018, weaving their stories into the dark narrative of the music.
The moniker ‘Obsidian’ harks back to a more turbulent time, chosen for its reference to the volcanic glass that once served a grim purpose. The band itself emerged as a sanctuary for its members, each grappling with their own set of tribulations, melding their fervent passion for rock with an infusion of gloomy electronic and mystical undertones. Today, Obsidian’s lineup boasts the talents of Missy Mortis, wielding a guitar and powerful croon while steering the creative direction, alongside Kathy D.’s synthetic orchestrations, Dent’s deep bass reverberations, and the percussive prowess of D.C., together forging a sound that is as haunting as it is cathartic.
19 Dead opens with the lead single Night Director, which comes with a music video. The lyrics depict a tumultuous emotional landscape marked by betrayal, grief, and existential contemplation. Set against a backdrop of forbidden love and internal turmoil, the song grapples with feelings of entrapment and the desire for release, questioning the authenticity of relationships and the impact of their potential demise on others. The music video, crafted by Roberto Badillo, artfully oscillates between scenes of a somber celebration and the stark daylight of a graveyard, suggesting that the spirits revel in joy as they transcend the confines of earthly existence.
Watch the video below:
The haunting Memories conveys loss and longing, where a voice desperately reaches out to a departed loved one, grappling with the harrowing realities of grief, addiction, and the fragile hope of reunion in dreams. Following this is Glass, a number about isolation and existential anguish, touching on themes of pain, trauma, and the inevitability of death. Burdened by past experiences and contemplating the meaning of existence, he ultimately finds solace in the shared fate of mortality. Likewise, the haunting atmosphere of Decay centers around the theme of parting without a final farewell. They capture a dialogue between the living and the dead, highlighting the pain of unresolved departures and the permanence of absence. Apathies of a Sinking City paints a vivid picture of a city teetering on the edge of disaster, juxtaposing its vibrant nightlife and hedonistic excesses with the impending doom of a natural catastrophe. As the storm approaches, the city’s inhabitants remain engrossed in their debaucheries, oblivious to the danger. References to societal decay, crime, and apathy hint at a deeper moral and environmental neglect, culminating in a foreboding vision of the city’s inevitable downfall. Angel depicts a transformative journey from heartbreak to empowerment, where betrayal leads to self-discovery and liberation. Embracing desires and newfound strength, one can ascend to a higher state, asserting control and grace amidst themes of lust and revenge. The album ends with the fiery political anthem Nondisclosure.
19 Dead is out now on Bat-Cave Production. Listen below and purchase here:
Obsidian currently has 3 EP releases: 2018’s four-track EP A Swamp, which was followed by the 2019 EP Living Dead, and 2020’s Vultures.
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