"Fresh Hell, the latest offering from Houston grind squadron Omotai, breaks from the assault pattern of 2012's Terrestrial Grief on a number of fronts. The hulking snow-mountain trudge of opener "Get Your Dead Straight" pointedly establishes that the band is just as at-home pounding out molten, doom-laden jams as any of the hyperspeed sludge on which they've established their name. The relentless drive of "Leglifter" oscillates between indie sophistication and crude stoner metal, the lyrics betraying an uncharacteristically political bent (though the ultimate intent remains elusive). Closing track "We Don't Have to Be Strangers" echoes Shellac with its stabbing stutter-riff before launching into a dirge centered on social isolation and substance abuse.
The vocals are manifestly evolving, as well, with Ryan's pixieish wail climbing to the lead on several tracks. Waters and Vallejo still gleefully indulge in the wolfpack howls that made for some of the eeriest listening on Terrestrial Grief, though it's clear that each has become more acclimatized in his role as co-vocalist.
All told, Fresh Hell should not be taken as Omotai's masterpiece. What's clear, however, is that it's an exploratory outing on the way there, pushing boundaries and expectations set by the band's previous two efforts, and I'm willing to bet cash that we can expect some pretty stellar accomplishments from the trio in the years ahead."
credits
released February 18, 2014
Samuel Waters - guitar, vocals
Melissa Lonchambon Ryan - bass, vocals
Anthony Vallejo - drums, vocals
Recorded by Chris Ryan at Dead City Sound, Houston, TX
Mastered by Carl Saff at Saff Mastering
Artwork and Layout by Bjorn Bauer
It is long over due: I should mentioned how much I loved this album two years ago when I first heard it. Sludgy and doom ridden metal. Not to mention the grooviness that thing punches either. The real cherry on top is that these boys are getting the recognition they deserve with their recent signing to Relapse. JDMP
Le tocsin n'est pas la cloche de cathédrale dont les harmoniques sublimes font accéder au Royaume de Dieu : c'est une cloche dissonante qui donne l'ordre d'évacuation face à une catastrophe imminente.
Tocsin, troisième album de YEAR OF NO LIGHT, ne joue plus sur la dualité : le post-metal du groupe tire sur le doom metal mais reste rapide. Chaque répétition ne fait qu'augmenter un peu plus la pression. Aucune issue et un désespoir total, sous l'indifférence des étoiles.
Ce Tocsin est sublime... Jordan Vauvert