Omnium Gatherum – Grey Heavens (2016)

Fresh off their latest run of shows through North America, Omnium Gatherum returns to deliver their most amazing release to date with “Grey Heavens”. Featuring ten tracks of majestic Melodic Death Metal, this band has graduated in the top of their class and should get a Melodic DM doctoral degree for their efforts in this release. Having refined their sound over the years, their seventh release shows uncanny maturity and expert knowledge of the genre.

Opening with the headbanging anthem “The Pit”, the band’s melodic signature sound instantly takes center stage with their impressive parallel guitar onslaughts and furious pace. Not letting the listeners settle in too quick, “Skyline” paints a lush melodic anthem with very inspired atmospheric keyboards to go with a superbly catchy tempo. This track alone perfectly blends their style with the epicness of older Children of Bodom and the melancholy of Insomnium.

With all the awesome tracks in this release, it is nearly impossible to pick the best ones. We have the brilliant leads and atmospheric slowdowns of “Frontiers”, or the melancholic passages of the moody “Majesty and Silence”, or even the furious pace of the brilliant “Rejuvenate!” a song that reminds us of the band’s earlier material from their “Spirits and August Light” days. Markus Vanhala and Joonas Koto do a killer job in crafting very intricate and melodic guitars thru ought this release, and when paired with lush atmospheric keyboards, they create brilliant pieces like “Foundation”.

Perfectly designed to headbang from start to finish, “Ophidian Sunrise” features some solid leads and crushing drumming to keep our necks sore for weeks. Showing their more melancholic side, “These Grey Heavens” is another relaxing piece with extremely memorable guitar leads. Closing with a bang, “Storm Front” delivers six more minutes of melodic brilliance that perfectly closes one of the most impressive albums we have heard in years.

Omnium Gatherum is at the height of their game with the mesmerizing “Grey Heavens”. Perfectly balancing melodic passages, crazy fast guitar solos, intricate drum and bass guitar patterns alongside atmospheric keyboards and piercing growls, melodic Death Metal cannot get any better than this. If you are a fan of the band and the genre, be prepared to have a new all-time favorite album with this gem.

Label: LifeForce Records

Release: February 19th, 2016 (Finland) / February 26th, 2016 (World)

Genre: Melodic Death Metal

Country: Finland