Not My God – Obverses (Album – Metropolis Records)
Genre/Influences: Industrial, Cinematic, Electronic.
Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.
Background/Info: “Obverses” is the third and final album by Not My God. This American project driven by Tim Skold (Marilyn Manson, KMFDM, Motionless In White, FLA, Skold) and Nero Bellum (Psyclon Nine) has announced a live tour for the end of the year to call it quits. This is the band’s second album released by Metropolis Records.
Content: “Obverses” moves on where the previous opus “Simulacra” (2022) stopped. The sound remains a true sonic enigma although clearly infused by Industrial sound components the duo now mixes together with bombastic sound arrangements and then with surprising Ballad style. Deep bass lines, icy sequences and slow rhythms come together in pure minimalism with the unique vocals of Nero Bellum on top.
+ + + : Not My God is one of these bands which has created a very personal sound, kind of Industrial sound DNA bringing different genres and subgenres together. It sounds heavy and bombastic on one side and still subtle and refined and the other side. The atmosphere supporting the work remains cold and even a bit tormented. It’s not exactly the kind of music that makes people happy although Industrial-minded music lovers are going to like it. I’m fascinated by the composition and the style of the band which resulted in a few new masterpieces like “Unwind The Helix” and “Hyacinth”. “Deus Vult” is another masterpiece I want to mention for its more club-minded approach. This band is driven by a true creative spirit which needs a few minutes till you really catch the genius and potential of the composition.
– – – : The sound of Not My God remains a bit of a challenge but it makes me sad such a unique formation finally decided to stop their activities. Marketing wise it’s maybe not the best choice to announce the end of the band while the album is just out.
Conclusion: If “Obverses” will be really the band’s final album it will be for sure part of a great sonic legacy consisting of 3 fantastic albums.
Best songs: “Deus Vult”,“Unwind The Helix”, “Hyacinth”, “Carnations”.
Rate: 8½.
Artist: www.facebook.com/notmygodofficial
Label: www.metropolis-records.com / www.facebook.com/MetropolisRecords
About Not My God
Not My God is the joint project of Tim Skold (ex-Marilyn Manson, Shotgun Messiah, KMFDM) and Nero Bellum (Psyclon Nine). The pair had previously worked as live members in each other’s bands, Skold as guitarist for Psyclon Nine and Bellum as keyboardist for Skold, before writing and recording together for the first time as Not My God. The self-titled debut album followed on 14 February 2020 on Cleopatra Records, including the tracks “Fiction” and “Sowing Discord”. The duo then signed to Metropolis Records for the second album, “Simulacra”, released in 2021, followed in 2023 by “Obverses”, which the duo has described as their third and final album ahead of a farewell tour.
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