Following on from last years ‘Mass Cult Suicide’, I am happy to say that ‘Omen’ is a marked improvement and fits with projects “tags”. You still have really strained vocals to contend with, but it’s much more straight ahead metal, here presented with modern compressed production, and I must say, a great album cover. The concept is based upon the horror classic ‘The Omen’, horror metal is mentioned, as is new wave of traditional heavy metal, but the latter still doesn’t fit to me.
‘He Is Born’ starts the release proper. There is a battering theme, a juggernaut, weak drums hamper it, but that said the intent is clear. A clear nod to typically British metal. Although the sound maybe be below par, the delivery of the drum fills is cool. Tempo changes augment a strong arrangement and gives the tune some stylistic kudos. ’I Die for You’ follows a path that may excite modern Iron Maiden fans; it reminds me of UK band Hamerex actually with a memorable hook in the chorus, but the main guitar riff is a nod to the style of horror master King Diamond.
‘Repulsion for the Sacred’ is basic metallic riffing, with some nice overtones of guitar riffing. The feel is positive, I’m still not keen on the vocal style or delivery, I mentioned this in my review of the project’s last release too, but that said, the ideas are all there, the horror rasp in the title/chorus is quite eerie. ‘Megiddo’ takes epic parts of the likes of Maiden and transcribes them into the Malamorte style. The vocals do sound very strained here. Once you get past the initial music, there key moments that will attract your attention and you can hear many influences to be fair. For instance, ‘The Truth Buried in the Cemetery’ brings together many tempos, styles and gels into the storyboard of the music, you can picture it. There is a great attempt to gets the listener included; some parts would feature well in the live setting. When you look beneath the top level, there is a real character to this album. Some great ideas are present. I suppose for me, I do not like the vocal style, but I have to applaud the arrangements and music underneath this.
Overall, this is a much-improved release, the ideas fit the concept, and the style is much more fitting to the music category, much more than the former release. It may not be for everyone, but I feel there is a promise and something that many will take positives from.
(6.5/10 Paul Maddison)
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