I happen to know for a fact The Obelisk is huge in London. Okay, I know no such thing — in fact, I can be fairly certain of the opposite of what I just said — but that doesn’t change the fact that I wrote it on the intertubes and that makes it true. Cross-cultural rockers Obiat (interview, review) are having their CD release party for their third album, Eye Tree Pi, in Foggy London Town with none other than Orange Goblin‘s Ben Ward DJing, and they sent a flier to go with the news. Seems the least I can do to pass it along:

With a truly international lineup involving members from Hungary, Italy, Poland and the UK (where the band as a unit makes its home), semi-psychedelic hard rockers Obiat are bound to cull together a unique bundling of influences. And just as diversity of culture brings different perspectives to other group works, Obiat‘s third album and first for Small Stone, Eye Tree Pi, leans toward post-metal without falling prey what are fast becoming the cliches of the genre, thanks in no small part to the individual elements each member adds to the sound.

Eye Tree Pi is an album that requires more than an immediate impression to go on. There is more to hearing it than just sitting passively and enjoying the sound; it is the process of digging deeper that gives the most satisfaction, and it was in that spirit that I hit up the band for an email interview, for which I was accommodated by vocalist Laz Pallagi and guitarist Raf Reutt. Among the issues discussed is the band’s storied heritage and how they all came to congregate around London and Reading, the making of Eye Tree Pi and how it stands in line with its two predecessors.

Interview is after the jump. Please enjoy.

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Although members hail from areas such as Poland and Hungary, new Small Stone Records signing Obiat base themselves in London where they?ve lived and operated for nearly a decade. With two prior independent records under their belt — 2002?s Accidentally Making Enemies and 2005?s Emotionally Driven Disturbance — the four-piece joins the Small Stone roster heralding the quizzically-titled Eye Tree Pi, which proves to be as deep a foray into post-metal as their new label has yet to make. Fortunately, drummer Neil (no last name given) restrains himself from that insistent and oh-so-telling Isis snare pattern that seems to infect every other record in this genre. For that alone, Obiat were worth signing.

Obiat seem to have sold their souls at the crossroads between YOB, System of a Down and more basic, guitar-driven post-metal. There?s ambience a-plenty, but like in the extended trio of opening tracks, ?Poison Thy Honey,? ?Delights? and ?Serpents? Rights,? most of the atmosphere comes in the form of changing volumes and quiet parts from six-stringer Rafa Reutt and bassist Alex — ?Passive Attack? aside. Vocalist Laz Pallagi follows the songs wherever they lead him, and keeps a clean tone almost entirely throughout, carving another niche for the band since so many of their ilk are fronted by either their guitarists or other screamers. He goes as far in ?AA54089? as to throw in some latter-day Hansi K?rsch sans layering-style acrobatics among his other shouts and wails.

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