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Only
a few years ago, it was hairless kids right out of high school
playing technical metal at such an astronomical level each two
could have given one 70’s Yes a run for their millions. No
kidding. Nowadays, there is this other current sweeping nations
of metalheads with their vast sounds and vocal-less
transmissions. They all aim for grandiosity and eloquence; and
that may just be the problem as many groups are staring to sound
too much alike. Where is the spontaneity and genuine spirit of
experimentation that post rock is supposed to thrive on? It’s
cool to know that metal has gotten so diverse. And let’s not kid
ourselves, as metalheads we shall all claim these post-rock
bands as ours. Especially when they are as downtempo as
Germany’s Omega Massif, who to many should sound just like a
doom band, though not quite as morose.
That said,
the first thing that jumps at me about Omega Massif’s debut
Geisterstadt is, the giant sound. The guitars in particular
are vibrant and super electric. They have this sweeping sound
that is just as natural as thunder. But very much like what
comes after thunder and way before it, most of the album spends
plenty of minutes building up to some sort of zenith. Like is
the case of most post rock records, there comes a times when
waiting seems just futile, as the payoff that is the loud part
packs no punch nor wallop. “Nebelwand” for instance, is too
quiet for its own good. It’s great to know that Omega Massif has
the dynamics to grow and shrink but come on man.
You can rock
out with your cock out all the time and still sound progressive
and post rockish. “Unter Null” only takes a couple of dozen
seconds to ramp up and get loud. That’s why with “In Der Mine”
are both the best songs in the album. And the tune is
devastating, the sounds keep on growing and growing and just
when you think they can’t get any louder Omega Massif does. It’s
cool stuff all around. But they are definitely going to need to
learn a few other tricks for their next recording.
Official Site
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