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 Rich atmosphere pushes this album farther.- |
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Many are no strangers to the band Omnium Gatherum. The band was formed back in 1996 in Finland, and after four demos, finally was picked up by Rage of Achilles for an EP and full-length before being signed to the mammoth of melodic metal labels, Nuclear Blast Records. In turn the band was pretty much hammered into the minds and ear drums and fans through the internet, as well as radio stations that supported the genre. Eventually the band shifted to Candlelight Records for a stint, and it seems that nobody ever really heard from them again. Omnium Gatherum always obtained mixed results from critics with their albums, and with New World Shadows it seems fitting, yet an odd move, for the band find a home with Lifeforce Records, another bigger name in Melodic metal bands, but one that doesn't quite get the recognition it deserves with some of their bands. This label is issuing the group's fifth full-length effort, and the question is whether or not this release will cast a new light for the group, or find them in a new shadow (pun intended). Whatever your take on the band's previous material, Omnium Gatherum has definitely matured over the years, and this recording shows the band at their strongest. The songs on here often take a more Doom sounding atmosphere, approaching their songs in a slower pace and riddled with melancholic, dark atmosphere that can be compared to fellow Melodic Death Metal masters Dark Tranquillity, but in a more darker tone. Just the powerful and attitude altering performance on "Evertides" will win any Melodic Death Metal fan over, having enough changes to keep the listener happy over it's nine plus minute track length, a risky choice for the opening track, but one well worth it that fully displays the band's abilities perfectly and have you coming back time and again solely for that song. Of course, the band isn't always that brooding either, as there are songs that do pick up the tempo, and really just hammer away with catchy, hook-driven songs with a lighter atmosphere, such as "Ego" with it's more powerful hopeful and victorious atmosphere coupled with the deep Death Metal gutterals that pushed the dark "Everfields" over the top. "The Distance" also makes for a great upbeat track, being a little faster like "Ego", but does manage to slow it down for a few moments in sort of a reflective moment before hammering back into the hooks. This track doesn't really have much of an atmosphere to it though, being a very subtle presence, but all around is still a strong track. Aside the atmosphere that often appears on the album, though with some songs it's more subtle and a little harder to pick up on, another thing that works well for the album are the fuest vocals. Nillo Sevänen apparently handles some gutterals, though it's a name I never heard before and can't trace to any other bands. He apparently handles the gutterals on the recording, which is a little confusing since the band has a vocalist and almost all the album is growling, and very impressive growling at that. "Soul Journeys", for instance, finds a strong emotional and energetic performance, reaching deeper and higher ranges when the music calls for it, shifting between the mystical atmosphere with a more upbeat feeling of solitude with a slightly epic approach that the vocals enhance perfectly. On the other end of the spectrum, you have the esteemed Dan Swanö performing clean vocals. These are a little iffy at times, but it's mostly due to the effects on them. They first appear on the title track, "New World Shadows", and it's simply jaw dropping, really working well with the dark atmosphere of the song in a Progressive, almost early Evergrey sense, but yet in the same "Soul Journeys", they are nowhere near as dynamic and powerful, more lower mumble in a smokey echo effect, and they just sound a little more ridiculous then they should have been, being the right approach for the song, but just not working out at all. Aside those poor clean vocals in "Soul Journeys", there's nothing really on this recording to complain about. The only other complaint is that "An Infinite Mind" really takes the whole atmosphere thing a step further, but in a negative way. The cloudy, in-a-daze atmosphere of the song is fantastic, but the slower pace of it, and it's continued drop in speed at times just makes the song feel like it drags on forever, though at the end it does out. Other then that, the song is fine. "Watcher of the Skies" is a decent song, but the general sound of the song, as well as the chords used, are often reminiscent of Amon Amarth, down to the point where you'll be hearing them performing instead of Omnium Gatherum during certain guitar-emphasized passages. In the end, these are more just nitpicking and being overly critical then anything, as both of these tracks are still greatly enjoyable, and retain the overall strong atmosphere the band brings to the table. One other issue that isn't necessarily an issue, but can be without the right equipment, is that a good majority of this album's atmosphere can't fully be captured without having some decent bass, so chances are if you are listening to this on any form of cheap speakers that have little to no bass, then you're more then likely not going to get that huge atmospheric push from the band and just not like it as much. In the end, New World Shadows makes for a fantastic album that starts off melancholic, continues with it's atmospheric dominance, and ends on the same fitting note that it all started with on "Deep Cold". Omnium Gatherum have put together a powerful and emotion-jerking album thanks to it's deep and rich atmospheres that run the map between victorious, depressing, and even mystical, all while retaining their highly infectious hooks in the songs. If you're into Melodic Death Metal, then there is no reason why this album won't win you over, and is well worth a look, fan or not of the band. Even those who are not too big into the style will enjoy the huge atmospheric front the band brings to this recording. Either way, this is an album you simply have to check out. |
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Digital review copy of this release provided by: Lifeforce Records Records.
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