When it comes to the ever-satisfying subgenre that is Melodic Death Metal, not enough has been – or is being – said about marquee progenitors Omnium Gatherum, sometimes relegated to the last band or two listed when stacking up the scene during reminiscences at local drinking establishments.
For literally decades, the Finnish five-piece has been churning out breath-taking harmonies, tantalizing guitar solos and spine-tingling rhythms. There simply wouldn’t be a European MDM sound without them. And their “OG” acronym is no coincidence: these guys have been around a while, and they get it.
Don’t let the dizzying lineup changes deter you, either. Jukka Pelkonen has been at the forefront since 2006, and for the last 15 years, has been seamlessly leading the charge with guttural lines and clean vocals which only strengthen the overall product. Origin (Century Media) is merely an extension of that dominance. Markus Vanhala, the singular remaining member from the original 1996 lineup, awes and intrigues listeners with his patented blend of luscious melodies and attention-grabbing solos.
‘Prime’ exemplifies the Omnium Gatherum sound, both in guitars and vocals. It’s nearly impossible to listen to ‘Reckoning’ or ‘Fortitude’ without foot-tapping at the speed of a small business owner two-and-a-half Americanos deep. The hook on ‘Paragon’ masterfully transitions from harsh to clean.
‘Friction’ likewise harkens back to any number of OG’s ragers. Pelkonen’s unique grunts inevitably give way to mellifluous singing, representing two different identities he is able to weave within an individual song. Nothing new.
Nine albums in and no sign of resting on any proverbial laurels, ‘Emergence’ slowly hums and whirs, bellowing into a drudgy head-banger, courtesy of the kit of Atte Pesonen. The (ill-advised) argument that Gatherum are merely reproducing what’s already been written is asinine. When an entity can continuously combine to create high-quality music, what’s the point of throwing a wrench into something that has already succeeded with flying colors for years and years?
Chalk up Origin as the latest example of Ominium Gatherum cementing its legacy within the earliest foundations of melodic death metal.
Buy the album here: https://omnium-gatherum.lnk.to/Origin
8 / 10
MATT COOK