Band: Omnium Gatherum
Country of Origin: Finland
Genre: Melodic Death metal
Type: Full Length
Format: CD
Length Approx.: 56:00 min.
Length Approx.: 56:00 min.
Release Date: 02-19-2016
Release Label: Lifeforce Records
IR Classification: Moderate (3.4 / 5)
Listen our review! (English)
"Grey Heavens" explain by itself with a little risk or nothing the simplicity of elements used and abused
Omnium Gatherum hailing from Finland, this year they are
offering their seventh full length "Grey Heavens" loaded with their
singular style of Scandinavian melodic death metal, they has been around for
the last twenty years, personally I consider this band becoming more notorious
after their release "The Redshift" in 2008, which I consider it
groundbreaking with promising elements, brightly blend of melodic and
atmospheric to create exceptional soundscapes and later on with the strongly
and successful "New World Shadows" in 2011, showing a more mature and
progressive sound, powerful tunes, with a solid drumming, during 2013 they
released "Beyond" which feels somehow static compared to their
previous album and pretty much doesn't carry that energy expected.
Unfortunately Omnium Gatherum seems to be the
counterpart for their countrymen Children of Bodom or even Insomnium, due to
the lack of recognition to their trajectory, no matter how much incisive or
expanded have been proved, they are still relegated within the sub-genre and
probably "Grey Heavens" explain by itself with a little risk or
nothing the simplicity of elements used and abused after "New World
Shadows" ending with scattered but redeemable tracks along "Grey
Heavens".
So, let's take the first track "The Pit" the
clicking gun barrel precede, before hell breaks apart with ultra fast riffing
and punishing blast beat and intense melody that settles with choruses, only to
lash out remorseless towards the end, "Skyline" its musical structure
is more heavier, dense and slower that the previous track, overflowing
infectious riffing, growling vocals are stunning in this track, while the
moderate use of keyboards works only to enhance and build passages in some
sections, without fear this is the best and most emotive song in the album,
"Frontiers" follows, here the intensity falls a little bit and melds
with an unstoppable melody synths and guitars intertwine in a stellar exhibit
where sound clashes and subtly it vanishes at the end, "Rejuvenate"
comes with its keyboard base and noxious guitar work, crushing blast beats and
pitiless vocals to engage the listener once again and prove them how melodic
death metal should be played, "Foundation" is bursting very
interesting due to the progressive side of the band but still melodic, the
vocals are throaty and powerful, "The Great Liberation" stand out for
the dark and imperative use of synths and contrasting with a masterfully guitar
work that excels in riffing, last but not least to redeem is the instrumental
"These Grey Heavens" beautiful acoustic guitar work evolves with
catchy melodies and thrives as memorable and unique.
Unfortunately "Grey Heavens" feels inconsistent and
contains many tracks as fillers only, degrading the songwriting and affecting
the overall performance of the album, however I can't condemn Omnium Gatherum
for been attached so deeply to their equation, newcomers to the sub-genre may
be glad with the outcome.
Stay
True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...
Track List:
01. The Pit
02. Skyline
03. Frontiers
04. Majesty and Silence
05. Rejuvenate
06. Foundation
07. The Great Liberation
08. Ophidian Sunrise
09. These Grey Heavens
10. Storm Front
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