Obsidian Records is honoured to take part in unveiling one of the most ambiguous Australian underground acts, Oracle of the Void, and their first documented full length release in its long, turbulent, 16 year history, “Further Steps to a Perfect World”.
Oracle of the Void (OOTV) initially injected its venom as a one man, primarily Black Metal project, by Gamaliel in the lower caverns of the Australian underground in 1992. Gamaliel from then until now has been responsible for the vision, ethos, lyrical philosophy and musical writings of OOTV. It was around 1994 that he finally had the temerity, and interest from averred individuals to piece together a live unit. During the years of 1996 and ‘97 five shows where executed with the likes of Destroyer 666, Lord Koas, Psychrist, Neuropath, Misery, The Grand Meeting, Isaacaron, and Sakkuth. Two shows in Brisbane and three in Sydney where played. As soon as the venom of OOTV began to surge through the veins of its wanting victims, it recoiled into another prolonged period of hibernation. Whilst the reasoning behind this is sometimes hard to withdraw from Gamaliel, bassist Rust draws some light. “Gamalie was ruefully driven to this decision for reasons unquestionably external to himself and his own will. He did not want to simply just cease OOTV, it was rising fast in the scene and the series of momentous events that eventually lead to the disbanding could not have occurred at a more inappropriate time for the band itself, but in hindsight perhaps the timing was in fact, perfect for the sake of the band’s maturity, or lack thereof".
An outsiders perception would lead one to believe OOTV ceased altogether, however, testament to Gamaliel, OOTV continued as a solo project in the shadows of other projects he was involved with, unbeknown at times to even his closest allies. Many of these verses have remained cellared for over 10 years, some of which may, or may not see the light of day in future.
In 1995 the “In Darkness is Found Greater Enlightenment” demo was recorded and at the time 300 tapes where pressed and distributed through various mediums in quite a quick manner. It wasn’t until 2006, however, that it was actually re-released to the public, much to the absolute disdain of Gamaliel, through the persistence of Obsidian Records on 10” blackened wax. After the demo, OOTV recorded a further two full length albums, both of which were discarded. From here, “The Seeker” and “On Wings, In Dreams” have thankfully been regurgitated on “Further Steps to a Perfect World”.
After the initial disbanding and leading up to the current lineup, many failed attempts were made to reform OOTV with a physical lineup. All were unashamedly pushed onto Gamaliel by [/i]Rust[/i] and drummerNechustan who believed passionately in his potential to affect the scene through his music and verses. Even with the current lineup which has been in place for three years, it all evolved generally against Gamaliel’s will. It hangs by a mere thread for all intents and purposes, as he has never wanted it to involve individuals again after Oracle’s catastrophic beginnings.
And so its skin has shed, ‘til now, the coiled serpent has slowly been unravelling, whilst choking and perplexing audiences with a more active live front for the last three years. In the background, Gamaliel has architected the remaining songs to complete what we have all yearned for; Enlightenment in the form of “Further Steps to a Perfect World”.
We are seemingly reluctant to reside in a disillusioned world filled with religious bullshit. A world of apparent free speech, but few are game to speak and question, with intellect, the blind spiritual powers that lead the blind, so called, spiritual masses. “Further Steps to a Perfect World” baptises us with nine verses of some of the most rotten, traumatic and seething hybrid black/death spat from under the Southern Cross. From the emotionally repulsive tracks “302” and “The Anatomical Commiseration” (which is like six minutes on a rollercoaster submerged through an entrails pit of an abattoir with your mouth open), to the aggressive death/thrash attack of “White Claudia” and “Red Spit”, “Further Steps to a Perfect World” is like a taste of what’s to come. Effectively it is a compilation of 10 years of material written in that time. But it starts and ends on the current direction, all the while showing, what was, what is, and what lies ahead.
Time has passed as you lay there frozen, hallucinating and letting the toxins collapse your soul and eliminate your world of control. Your body tries to flee, while your mind tries to fight. As the blood seemingly trickles from the inside of your mouth outwards, you now realise you have been cleansed of the filth around you. The impregnations of what has been previously programmed within have been erased and it is now you can take those further steps.
ORACLE OF THE VOID
“Further Steps to a Perfect World”
1. Absolute Love
2. Bone Devil
3.The Anatomical Commiseration
4. White Claudia
5. On Wings, In Dreams
6. The Valve
7. The Seeker
8. 302
9. Red Spit
Listen to “White Claudia”
White Claudia MP3
White Claudia OGG
OOTV Myspace
