Failed attempt to review Omnium Gatherum's "Grey Heavens"

So believe in darkness

The one embrace of the night

Believe in darkness

Like You believe in light

The Pit

Placement of this song confused me at first, it's by any means not a bad track, but placing it as an album opener after so well done intro and outro on Beyond?
After a while I got an idea, thought I might look into a bit too much- lyrics in White Palace and The Pit are very similar, one is saying that bleeding heart is not a bad thing, that understanding the wounds is the most important after being hurt. The Pit however contemplates it further, saying that wounds and mistakes might blur your vision like an illusion, or control you, that thinking about the damage done can make the pain impossible to leave, to achieve grat heavens and forever be stuck in the Ivory tower.
This is my interpretation of the song, might be right or wrong but I'm no longer confused why this track opens an album.

[3 hours later]

I really tried to review this album, but for the same reason I didn't review the last Swallow The Sun- I wasn't ready. I don't know the words to capture what I've witnessed while listening to this album, it's an experience everyone can feel differently, and while this statement is true towards any music here it takes it to another level.

This is an album for people who think there is nothing more to hear, who lost their passion towards music, people who get bored with music or find it predictable. While there is no guarantee that it will ressurect the flame of passion inside them, it will show them a world unknown, a view beyond borders of their understanding.

Then again it's hard to listen to. This is not an album to be played in the background, this is a hard album to go through, but it's worth every damn second. Love it or hate it, but no one can honestly say spending an hour listening to this cd is a waste of time.

Name "Gray Heavens" suits the album like a glove, this whole disc seems stuck between 2 worlds, a musical purgatory. It asks many questions while giving a few answers, provokes not always positive or pleasant thoughs. Simplistic lyrics don't help explaining some things and just keep making the thought process more complicated.
It's safe to say this disc is way beyond me when it comes to reviewing it. I can only say it's beautiful, sad, unique.
Unearthly.

Summary:

Guitars:   ?
Keyboards: ?
Vocals:   ?
Bass:   9/10
Drums:   ?

Additional: ?

Final score: ?

I apologize to those who expected to see a detailed review with my every emotion about each track, this album made me feel very unsure of my feelings and made me a bit more nihilistic than before.

Are we alive or not?

Alive or what?

Omnium Gatherum - Frontiers

Just listen to this before reading, I don't want to ruin this with my shitty review

-[]-

From soft, symphonic and distant intro, right into double pedal madness, insane sweeping and solid, heavy riffing. Vocals slowly walk along the fast instrumental background, creating a contrast both in tempo and the mood.
Even with extremely heavy sounding vocals the climate and lyric theme is soft, soothing and calming. These guys put the "melodic" part of melodeath in a way no other band can try to immitate.

After first verse the headbanging bridge comes stright into the sing along, simple chorus. Progressive elements are subtle like in Skyline, but very present and take many forms, from tempo changes to slight adjustements in general riffing and background. The outro starts with just intense repetition of the chorus, but takes an unexpected turn with a guitar solo. An extremely well delivered guitar solo.

I am speechless, thank God -[]- that I can still type. This song wipes my all expectations and just laughts at them. I cannot think of the last time I was so shocked by the quality and perfection.

Everything I love in this genre is present here, from extremely intense guitar work, lyrics that get stuck in your head for months, crash driven drums, bass that I can feel with my whole body and a beautiful background.

 I cannot tell how people like You react to music like this, but in my case a song like that leaves a mark. Band has their 20th birthday this year, and it's their 7th album, not counting some amazing EPs. Last album of theirs had a major role in curing my depression, and I can't wait to see what this one will do to me. Oh, worth noting that it's the second track from OG that made tears flow down my face during the first listen, at work.

Score:

Guitars: 12/10
Drums:  10+/10
Vocals: 10/10
Bass:    10+/10
Keys:   11/10

Additional:
+catchy& memorable
+background vocals and choirs
+intro and outro are both outstanding
++amazing build, flow and progression through the track
+ perfect mix of melodic and extreme elements with a gentle touch, great track for showing the genre to new people
+flawless mixing
+++hidden outro solo just kills it

Total score: 127%

...

I'm totally making a tattoo of this.

2015 Summary

Just a short one- I wrote already on my facebook a short summary but it was a fake one.

This year was rather hard for me compared to the last one, but I want to thank those most important to me, a new addition to my friends mrs. Potato Alicia Kartoffler and of course Juliet, probably the most interesting person I've ever come across. Karol and Gunsen for being distant and close friends and Queen of Awesomeness for being awesome.

Cheers! Stay healthy in 2016. I hope I will still be around meeting 2017 with You next year

unrelated. Or is it?