Jay Valena is the man behind Oskoreien, the Black Metal project now based in Los Angeles. Valena is coming off a recent split with fellow Californian, one-man project, Botanist, where both men showcased their nuanced experiments on Black Metal. He shows no signs of relent either, as Oskoreien has announced a new full-length album. The new album will be the second studio effort and is titled All Too Human. It follows the aforementioned split from earlier this year and a critically acclaimed, self-titled release back in 2011. Metal Injection is fortunate enough to present our readers with a premiere of a new track from the upcoming Oskoreien album, named "My Flesh Is But A Vessel."
The closing track of this four-song record is a riveting display of long-form metal. At 13 minutes, keeping the attention of a listener might seem a tall task. Yet, Valena's use of shrill DSBM vocals over blackened, GY!BE-esque/post-rock rhythm effortlessly captivates one's attention. What may be the most striking feature of "My Flesh Is But A Vessel" is Jay's work on both lead and bass guitars. Riffs seem to radiate from the strings. They twist and contort through a distorted ascension before reaching a crescendo in the final minutes of the track that marks a fitting end to not only a great song but a fantastic sophomore album.
All Too Human will see its release on December 2. In the meantime, check out "My Flesh Is But A Vessel" below and pre-order the album in various formats as well as merchandise through Oskoreien's Bandcamp page and official website.
