Spirits & August Light

As originally written (by me) for RoyalCarnage.com:Every so often a band comes along that renews your faith in an entire genre of music. In this case, OMNIUM GATHERUM is just such a band, and the genre is melodic death metal. I'll admit to it being melodic death that got me "back" into heavy metal in the first place, some years ago. And some of my favorite albums of all time are melodic death metal albums, but it's a genre that has always run the risk of becoming stagnant or too far-removed from its essence. It's a tough style of metal to play for these very reasons. However, OMNIUM GATHERUM, a Finnish sextet made up of self-proclaimed JUDAS PRIEST, AT THE GATES, KATATONIA and DEATH fans, have created just such an album to sweep away the melodic death doldrums.OMNIUM rarely conforms to anyone's preconceived notions about what is and is not acceptable within their chosen musical path. It's not at all unfeasible, nor is it unlikely that an OMNIUM GATHERUM song begin with somber, moody, OPETH-ian notes, then triple the pace to match the aggressive, phlegm-gargling vocals, and finally peak with a scorching, dizzying lead guitar crescendo. Not only is such a song pattern not unfeasible, it happens. Especially on "The Perfumed Garden," which is about as close to a perfect song as has been created in recent memory. And even the weaker moments on the album would be highlights for lesser bands. At their core, OMNIUM GATHERUM is indeed a melodic death metal band. There are plenty of moments that will remind the listener of the strongest DARK TRANQUILLITY or SOILWORK songs. But they're regularly more than that, far more. It's almost as if they've taken the best elements of all their influences and combined them into one seamlessly well-oiled machine.Spirits And August Light is a moving, emotional record. It's uplifting yet dark and depressing. It's angry, dangerous, foreboding and a harbinger of worse things to come. It's happy, energetic and supercharged with passion. It's all of these things and more, and will certainly adapt to what you want it to be. Anyone who's been previously bored with melodic death metal, anyone who's looking for the shining light in a sea of monotonous grey, anyone who desires to listen more closely and transcend what you knew before, take heed. You will be overwhelmed at the greatness before you.

This is without a doubt the best melodic death album I have heard. I tend to be more into the prog death style, like Opeth and Edge of Sanity (see my reviews for those if you're interested). This album walks a fine line between melodic and progressive death, but it is not as much about the complexity as Opeth and Edge of Sanity are. This is not to say the songs are not complex, but that they are more complex in the thrash vain: riffs are repeated a few times, the song moves on to the next one, and maybe there will be a return to a previous riff later.The songs are all perfect lengthwise. I can understand why some people might be bogged down in prog death metal (Opeth's songs are usually around ten minutes long, and Edge of Sanity's two songs are both around 40 minutes!).There are no clean vocals; the music is relentlessly crushing yet melodic at the same time. A difficult feat, as most melodic death metal bands have proven time and time again, often sounding like they are trying too hard to be melodic or brutal or both. Omnium Gatherum does not sound like they are trying to be either. They sound like a melodic death metal band playing music for the sake of playing music rather than trying to fit into any preconceived musical niche, if that makes sense.

Hailing from Finland, Omnium Gatherum could best be described as Enthrone Darkness Triumphant/Stormblast-era Dimmu Borgir with some Insomnium. Combining soft, lush keyboards with furious riffs and drumming, Omnium Gatherum are poised to be one of Finlands best. While there sophmore album was a bit of a let down, Spirits and August Light is absolutely amazing.Favorite tracks include Deathwhite, which cuts straight into a nice heavy, sludgy riff, the slow and bass-heavy Perfumed Garden, and the chaotic Amor Tonight, but I did not once skip.If your fans of pure melodic death metal, and are wanting to get into Finnish metal that isnt CHildren of Bodom, get this, along with Kalmahs Swamplord, Insomniums Since the Day it all Came Down, and Sentenced's North From Here.

This album is genius, So if your a true fan of melodic death(not a fan of "melodic" "hardcore" or nu-"metal"), then you must have this album.

I have recently discovered OG and have been gobbling up their CDs ever since. To my mind they are at their strongest with the vocalist/composer Antti Filppi who was with them 2000-2006. He's got an anguish, rawness and beauty about him which, when set against the bitter-sweet music behind him, is compelling and - are we allowed to say this about metal? - inspiring. They're like Opeth, Darkane and The Ocean all rolled into one and yet not totally like any of them.Anyone who can coax Antti out of retirement will be doing humanity a great service. If you can't manage that, at least buy the CD.