Primeval: Obsession // Detachment
| Primeval: Obsession // Detachment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:Primeval.Obsession.Detachment.jpg | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 5, 2025 | |||
| Recorded | September–October, 2024 | |||
| Length | 42:08 | |||
| Label | Earache | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Tallah chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Tallah studio album chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Primeval: Obsession // Detachment | ||||
| ||||
Primeval: Obsession // Detachment is the third studio album by the American heavy metal band Tallah, released on September 5, 2025, through Earache Records. It is the band's first album with Ivan Little on turntables and Joel McDonald on drums, with Max Portnoy officially switching to bass and only performing drums on some songs.
Background and recording
[edit | edit source]The album is their first with Max Portnoy committing to bass, with former touring drummer Joel McDonald taking over on drums.[1] It is also their first album with DJ Ivan Little.[2] The album was produced by Josh Schroeder,[1] who also produced the band's first two albums.[3][4] Max Portnoy described the album's recording process and sound, stating:
"For me, this album is Tallah finding our voice...No rules were set...It’s weird. It’s experimental. It’s driving, and energetic. It’s raw. We recorded live, every instrument at the same time, with no click. That’s how we play shows...This album also marks my first recording dedicated to bass. I translated my drum knowledge to a new instrument and it was a huge creative breath of fresh air for me.”[5]
As was the case with the prior two albums, this is a concept album, though comparatively less so. All vocals on the album were performed by Bonitz in a single, continuous take, after Bonitz contracted human immunodeficiency virus, but before being diagnosed formally, resulting in him viewing much of the lyrics as prophetic in hindsight.[6]
Release
[edit | edit source]On April 2, 2025, Tallah released the song "What We Know" as the album's lead single, accompanied by a music video.[1][5] On May 7, "A Primeval Detachment" was released as the second single, again with a music video.[7] "Augmented" was released as the third single on June 11,[8] followed by "As Fate Undoes" on July 15, the latter also receiving a music video.[9] The fifth and final single, "Undone by Fate", was released on August 22, 2025.[10] Although not released as a single, the band published a music video for "Depleted" on the album's release day.[11]
Reception
[edit | edit source]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Boolin Tunes | 9/10[12] |
| Distorted Sound | 6/10[13] |
| Metal Hammer | StarStarStarHalf starFile:Star empty.svg[14] |
Jack Crosby-Griggs of Boolin Tunes called the album "their most ambitious, experimental and realised thus far."[12] Elliot Leaver of Distorted Sound wrote, "Tallah are clearly still learning their craft, and you cannot fault the effort they put into their music – indeed, there are moments on Primeval: Obsession // Detachment that sparkle brightly. However, that roughness around their edges does need looking at."[13] According to Paul Travers of Metal Hammer, "There's still plenty of Slipknot-style pummelling going on, but Tallah are increasingly spreading their own musical wings. The result is something tantalisingly familiar, but with just enough unpredictability to add a sense of freshness and excitement."[14]
Track listing
[edit | edit source]All lyrics are written by Justin Bonitz; all music is composed by Max Portnoy and Tallah.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "05:01" | 1:04 |
| 2. | "What We Know" | 4:03 |
| 3. | "Augmented" | 3:39 |
| 4. | "As Fate Undoes" | 3:49 |
| 5. | "My Primeval Obsession" | 4:49 |
| 6. | "Lacuna" | 3:09 |
| 7. | "A Primeval Detachment" | 4:29 |
| 8. | "Undone By Fate" | 5:12 |
| 9. | "Depleted" | 3:28 |
| 10. | "What We Want" | 4:36 |
| 11. | "07:09" | 3:50 |
| Total length: | 42:08 | |
- Note: All track titles are stylised in lowercase, besides What We Know and A Primeval Detachment, which are stylized in sentence case. Lacuna is stylized as "_la|cuna_".
Personnel
[edit | edit source]Tallah
- Justin Bonitz – vocals
- Derrick Schneider – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Alex Snowden – rhythm guitar
- Max Portnoy – bass guitar, drums, production
- Ivan Little – turntables, samples, keyboards
- Joel McDonald – drums
Additional personnel
- Josh Schroeder – production, mixing, mastering, engineering
Notes
[edit | edit source]- ^ Was available from June 17 for those who had pre-ordered the album.
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
Lua error in Module:Authority_control at line 153: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).