Omniscient

"Ultima Destructo Infinitus"

The first thought that crossed my mind, when I played this record is that the album ”Ultima Destructo Infinitus” is optimized in every way possible. At least I have listened to it a couple of times now and so far no musical flaws in sight. It’s not that I expected it, but when listening to an album from a band I’ve not heard of before, I do seek those tiny errors that sometimes occur, as well as parts of the music, that makes it better than average. I just need to be aware of all the good parts as well as the bad ones of the music, to make a complete and fair review.

The album “Ultima Destructo Infinitus” is a masterpiece, consisting of symphonic brutality and somewhat dark and depressive energy that is best described as an embarkment upon the darker and deeper parts of the human mind and the world in general. The overall sound on this fine album is grandiose and very majestic. The music of Omniscient consists of 2 central elements: melodic atmosphere and second: brutality and savagery. And there’s a lot of both which makes the album “Ultima Destructo Infinitus” even more interesting than the average symphonic black metal album. If you have a soft spot for bands like Dimmu Borgir, you will surely make Omniscient a subject for your interest.

As I wrote before there has been no flaws or glitches in the music so far. Since then the album has been played a couple of more times with the same result. Take it as you want – I think of it as the only possible result of a record being equally well produced and composed.

The line-up of Omniscient is as follows:
Andy Hargrave : guitars, Leslie Hargrave: keyboards, James Hargrave: drums/percussion, Steve Benoy: guitars, Bob Daugherty: vocals and David Chaney on bass. All members take their toll in the strife to move the music up to a level of quality way above average. With”Ultima Destructo Infinitus” they are well on their way. And there’s no doubt in our minds that Omniscient will reach that level in a future, not so far from where they are now.

From Metal Coven the best wish for the future goes out to a band, which we are pleased to know. And our copy of ”Ultima Destructo Infinitus” will be played with the same anticipation of a musical experience in the future, as it has been so far. 

At Metal Coven we have listened to the album a couple of times, and each time we’ve enjoyed the density in the music, as well as the very melodic atmosphere, flavoured with lots of brutal force, being generated from many razorblade sharp guitar riffs, and drums played with such conviction, that I can hardly imagining them handled better than this.

Keyboards are also a very important element in the more melodic genres of black metal. And on this album they have this particular sound that makes them fit the rest of the music like a glove.

On certain parts you really get to enjoy the skills of the keyboardist Leslie Hargrave. This is on the parts of the songs that combine verse and chorus. But in general the keyboard contributes very well to the music, with an overall atmosphere shifting from gloomy to melodic.

Omniscients line-up is:

Andy Hargrave : guitars
Leslie Hargrave: keyboards
James Hargrave: drums/percussion
Steve Benoy: guitars
Bob Daugherty: vocals
David Chaney: bass
 

Additional info on the band and the relases at: http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/omniscient/ or www.omniscientgods.com

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