Till the fifth song "God is a Lie" these guys is playing nothing that is more than annoying Death Metal riffs in the Thrash metal veins with primitive drums work, but after fourth composition their sound has light shift rather to "Gothenburg's branch" of Semi-Melodic Death than to roots of True Death Metal scene. If you have the earliest works by Dark Tranquillity made between 1991-1993, you may notice the maturity of Dark Tranquillity's work in comparison to what the Hypocrisy perform on "Penetralia".
In other words, this record with kiddish satanic "terrifying" lyrics mixed with artless Thrash Metal makes the major influence on legion of teenagers with pimply faced, unliked children who do nothing more than growing in believe that "Satan is fucking cool".
February, 2002
Review by Vetrarnott

This record is the appropriate continuity to precedent one. After each 20 seconds you can hear "Hail to Satan" or "Satan... hear me", after each 40 seconds - "Fuck Jesus Christ". Most of all tracks contain improved songwriting structure which is based on tradition Thrash Metal ala` Testament (in the galloping guitar lines) with Death Metal inspiration fleshing out the edges. "Osculum Obscenum" contains also track with name "Black Metal" by Venom, but this recast by Hypocrisy leave me in a sense of unserious of sounding. The total impression from this CD make me feel that "Osculum Obscenum" isn't the record to be in my CD collection. I don't find any attractive fresh riffs for me. This music is unserious and uninteresting at all.
February, 2002
Review by Vetrarnott

What a surprise: I expected that music on new album should be more Death Metal rooted, but I need to say that I was surprised to be proven wrong. The CD opens with a moody instrumental piece with slow atmospheric solo guitar riffs , which leads into many tracks. Generally much of the guitar work on this record is excellent solos in NWBHM style that is striking part of the album. The production is very good, but to call "The Forth Dimension" Death Metal record isn't fairly accurate. NWBHM oriented guitar work makes this CD to be reminiscent of Paradise Lost's "Draconian Times", only more melancholic and worldly, more pain-edged and intrinsically meaner.
"I walk in the darker forest
We live and regret an pounding the doom
Abounding it self from the goal (?)
and all the blind are alone..."
I need to stress again that this record is rated not as Death Metal stuff.
February, 2002
Review by Vetrarnott

It's more strong and a little bit less melancholic then previous work with the type of rhythm a Semi-melodic Death Metal mixed also with NWBHM stuff uses - simply quite smooth enough. Some tracks like "Killing Art" have that touch of Swedish "Gothenburg" scene. Unfortunately the power of this record is far from latest release by At The Gates. While it does have a ballads (""Slipping Away"") to sort of balance out the heaviness, many of the aggressive riffs of their prior work were pushed aside in favor of non-stop subtlety riffing.
"...When the candle fades
The pain comes to an end
When the sun turns black
Release your blood, and fade away.
Blood'd never lie (death never lies?)
You'll take your life and dwell in emptiness,
running away from the pain..."
Granted, it does work in songs such as "Slipping Away" and "Drained", but after a while, the lack of variety takes its toll on the enjoyability of the album.
Feel every thing’s circumstantial
Realise the nonsense of existing
Start to put to an end to this lost life
(There) ain't no change for the better
So I’ll choose it from death
Memories been bless this one day
Take the tears and the pain
My soul I sold (to) prolong.
(Don’t tell me / I'm dying)
Tired of / Bury the pain
As I bury this knife in my body
Slowly Slipping Away
To another dimension of virtue..."

February, 2002
Review by Vetrarnott

Having been reborn after disbanding Hypocrisy start their self-named album in the latest traditions of Swedish "Gothenburg" scene (being with any important movement, resulting in endless clones). Many NWBHM solos remind such bands as Judas Priest but also the most aggressive - and if you ask me - the catchiest. As the differences of other tracks from "Gothenburg" tracks are concerned, "Time Wrap" is in idiotic punk style; "Selfinflicted Overload" contains part with a Heavy Metal Scream. These thing are nothing that only irritative.
This record contains the best ballad (Ha... is it sounding strange for "Death Metal band"?) has ever been performed by Hypocrisy - Paled Empty Sphere:

"...I can feel the sorrow build inside my mind. The purpose exists at the price I had to pay..."
"...The vault is closing in and I can't breathe.
It feels like I'm under water, and I can't swim.
Freedom!
Freedom!
Is this the life I had to live?
I pretend there's nothing to complain about.
Am I lost in the circle that can't be broken?
Or is this just a pale empty dream?..."

"Hypocrisy" is definitely the best their melancholic release. It's impossible to rate this record as Death Metal stuff. I've tried to show the common impression from music... But for my everyday listening I prefer records that have the powerful drive. And Hypocrisy isn't among this list.
February, 2002
Review by Vetrarnott