It has been said repeatedly that supergroups are never what they’re chocked up to be. Even charitably speaking, they are a coin toss when it comes to quality. Personally, I find supergroups usually fall into one of two categories. Supergroups formed with the intention of being “supergroups” are seldom worthwhile, but a supergroup that forms from common drive and creativity between established artists tends more often earns the title of a group that is indeed “super”. Changeling, to my estimation, belongs in this latter classification.

Changeling is a new extreme metal project that, given the members’ resumés, is nothing short of a supergroup. The project leader is Tom “Fountainhead” Geldschläger, alumnus of German band Obscura, and he is joined by a bassist Arran McSporran (formerly in De Profundis) and drummer Mike Heller (formerly in Fear Factory and currently in Malignancy), both musicians that tend to be the highlight of the bands they’re in. The pin in this already prolific lineup is vocalist Morean (formally in Dark Fortress and currently in Alkaloid), a singer and composer with close ties to many other former members of Obscura.

If the collective back catalogue of these musicians isn’t enough to pique interest, it should be noted that the guitarist and bassist are both widely known for using fretless instruments (not a common approach in this genre) and the vocalist, while excelling at extreme & screaming vocals, has some of the most unique clean vocals in the entire metal genre, extending across the baritone range and the higher end of the tenor range, always with a sort of alien tonality that defies comparison. These novel elements are only enhanced by the incorporation of brass horn sections and oud, also rarities in heavy music. Fountainhead’s oud playing in particular maintains a high energy while offering a welcome change in timbre from the standard metal fare.

The album overall is made up of extremely solid progressive death metal tracks showcasing stellar musicianship. Everyone gets their turn to shine and they never overstay their welcome. Even the ample shredding in the guitar parts comes across as tasteful, often mixed and arranged in a way that bolsters the other parts and adds texture, as opposed to drawing the listener’s full attention with meaningless flash. That said, the album truly hits its stride towards the end, particularly on the 16 minute odyssey that is the last track, “Anathema”. It is here that composition is at its most advanced while the song goes from section to section, ebbing and flowing with extreme and sedate energy. All the stops are pulled as the oud and brass and myriad voices of Morean take their turns across the track, mingled with the expert performances on the guitar, bass, and drums.

Changeling might not be trailblazing new musical territory, but they sure excel at what they do while maintaining a level of originality that makes their music worth revisiting. If you’re looking for complicated metal that won’t bore you out of your skull, or if you love Obscura but can’t abide plagiarism, look no further than this release right here.

7/10

About the author’s biases:

Elijah is a fretless bass player and is a big sucker for that sound, especially in metal music, but also everywhere, all the time.