Omnium Gatherum - The Red Shift

October 21, 2008

Reviewer: Jesse

Sometimes success can equal failure.  When you start your journey at the pinnacle, there’s only one way to go from there… down.  Omnium Gatherum were victims of their own success after releasing their debut album Spirits and August Light which was one of, if not the greatest melodic death metal album ever made.  Not only was the talent bursting at the seams, but the song writing was of an extremely high caliber rarely seen from a debut.  Every single song is amazing.  They had created a masterpiece right out of the gates and ever since they have failed at even coming close to recapturing any of that magic.  But then again, is it really that surprising?  Maybe not, but damned if it isn’t disappointing.

After making a change at bass and vocals (the latter of which is always risky) and only one year removed from their last album, 2008 would bring us their fourth full length, The Red Shift.  Right off the bat with the song “Nail,” I was getting excited.  The new singer has a much more gruff and deeper style and the musical talent is still as alive as ever.  Not a very lengthy song, but what it lacks in time it makes up for with catchiness and lush soloing.  The next song also has a very catchy opening riff and is a genuinely well-written song.  But could they keep it up is what was reserving my excitement.  The further into the album I got, the less amount of energy I needed to spend in holding back.  Not that it was snowballing downhill or anything, but after the fourth song, The Red Shift clearly starts to tread water.  Then by the eighth song, “Greeneyes,” the album starts to take on water.  “Greeneyes” is some kind of ballad that is really just not good.  The final three songs do nothing really to stop the sinking and we end up with another lead weight at the bottom of an over-saturated sea of blandness.  Jesus, what was the point of adding all this clean singing to the end?  Bad idea.

In fairness, I did actually see some hope in this album which is more than I could say about the previous two albums.  It might be that after they fell so far from the top that they’re beginning the slow trek back up.  They’re learning that it isn’t so easy, but I can tell that they care enough to really try.  Sometimes a change of scenery helps a lot and getting a few new permanent members with new ideas can help to build some momentum.  Just when I had about written this band off for good, they show me that they’re still kicking but still have some ways to go to get back to where they were.

Release Date: Sept. 22nd, 2008
Label: Candlelight Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  Nail
2.  A Shadowkey
3.  Chameleon Skin
4.  No Breaking Point
5.  The Return
6.  Shapes and Shades
7.  The Redshifter
8.  Greeneyes
9.  The Second Flame
10.  Song for December
11.  Distant Light Highway

Total playing time: 47:52

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