Orbit Culture - 'Death Above Life' - Album Review

Lighthouse Music
Oct 3
3 min read

BACKGROUND. Each generation has their own - the universally loved by fans and respected by peers, seemingly faultless in the eyes of the media, omnipresent and resourceful, triumphant bands that just plays some relentless, heavy af, good old metal. You know the type perfectly well, the likes of Gojira, Trivium, Lamb of God, Chimaira, to name a few of the fantastic beasts, and all unnecessary hype aside, this elite group is about to be joined by the crushing modern Swedish juggernauts Orbit Culture. No post-something, whatever-core, avant-garde, cross-genre, melo-grind abominations, but the purest and simplest vanilla metal in its brilliant time-appropriate simplicity, as heard once again in their newest LP Death Above Life.

BAND. Putting aside the fact that I do actually love all those tradition-defying boundary pushers and try to avoid mundane traditionalism as much as I can, it is highly appropriate to give Orbit Culture and their latest opus Death Above Life the attention and praise it so deserves. As if it was yesterday that Redfog (2018) and Nija (2020) appeared out of nowhere with that raw, unfiltered, primal power, followed by the even grander and bolder Descent (2023) and The Forgotten EP (2023). Two years later, unstoppable on their restless ascend towards metal immortality, Orbit Culture deliver yet another dose of their signature blend of classic trash foundation, Scandinavian melodeath influences and pristine modern production, certified heavy af.

ALBUM. Disarmingly flawless in execution yet effortlessly straightforward, Death Above All is Orbit Culture operating at their absolute best form and resources. Fuelled by the well-deserved success and cult status of their past releases, and reinforced by ongoing fan adoration and industry respect worldwide, the Swedes have released a career milestone and a modern genre treshold of greatness. On a record as solemn, punching and determined, Orbit Culture come dangerously close to boring predictability but transorm it into their main strenght as pleasent familiriaty and authenticity, emerging triumphant as one of the most consistant and reliable active bands in the world right now.

SONGS. As soon as you see average track lenght if over 5 minutes and hear that no-bs, right-in-your-face stomping intro 'Inferna', you know the boys mean serious business. Led by the ever so charismatic force of nature that is Niklas Karlsson, Orbit Culture hit you right from the start with a blizzard of thunderous breackdowns, intricate guitar solos, shattering riffs, and neck-breaking grooves. It really takes a shower of nausiating cliches to describe the monumental title track, the war march 'Tales of War', the hurricane 'Storm' or the ralying cry that is 'Hydra'. No point in delving deeper into each track as this LP isn't meant to reinvent the wheel or change the game, it just slaps big time and that's the brutal beauty of it.

FUTURE. Job outstandingly well done on Death Above Life, heavy af as per the standard, now onto the next one. Sky is the limit for the fine gents at Orbit Culture. I have had the pleasure of seeing them life and even having a quick chat with Niklas, who really is a true legend on and off the field, and they are mezmerizing on stage. The band just has it - the spark, the talent, the calling, whatever you want to label it, a pure song of ice and fire, pouring out of their chilling Scandinavian grooves and scorching metal melodies.

Orbit Culture - 'Death Above Life'

Country: Sweden

Released: 3 October

Label: Century Media

Tracklisting:

1. Inferna

2. Bloodhound

3. Inside The Waves

4. Tales Of War

5. Hydra

6. Nerve

7. Death Above Life