Review Summary: Angelic, haunting, evocative, brilliant.
As far as doom metal goes, and metal in general, few bands can create the dynamic, hauntingly optimistic atmosphere that Omit achieve seemingly effortlessly. Hailing from Norway, Omit have the perfect surroundings to mold their sound after – the freezing winters, the open wilderness, the bleak, grey sky above – they all take shape on record as beautiful, droning, 10+ minute symphonic epics.
Medusa Truth, Part 1 is no different: a three track full-length with the bookends being 16½ and 26 minutes long respectively and the shortest, ‘Denial’, at 6½ minutes. They are slow burners, sinking you into the icy wasteland Omit dwell in with every stroke of a bow; every ostinato piano motif; every operatic, tenderly sung chorus, with your only form of warmth being the muzzled underlying guitar riffs. Omit construct a world for the listener to become immersed in, and once you have a glimpse, it’s difficult to pull away.
When I think doom metal, my mind automatically goes to bands like diSEMBOWELMENT and Dead Congregation, simply because the term “doom” carries an apocalyptic, dark connotation for me. However, Omit thrives in a post-apocalyptic ambiance – a gloomy atmosphere rather than one of dread, paying homage to catastrophe while still inspiring a thread of hope. All three movements (because it really behooves you to listen to this in one sitting) contain authentic symphonic elements, i.e. no faux synth-string pads. It feels as if you’re listening the band perform in a packed amphitheater with a full orchestra backing them. Violins soar atop the ominous timbre of the violas and cellos; flutes whistle around like snowflakes while chimes dampen the mood with a chilling echo. Vocalist Cecillie Langlie has natural operatic charisma in her tone. When she’s singing a single melody, it can sound as if she’s leading a full choir. Other times, she overdubs ethereal harmonies on top of each other that paradoxically make the disposition bleaker and lonelier than before. Her voice is simply mesmerizing, and it plays a large role in what makes Omit’s music so depressing, yet simultaneously awe-inspiring and beautiful.
It’s hard to describe
Medusa Truth into words since it’s not so much of an album as it is an experience. As soon as the largo sway of ‘Distrust’ begins, it becomes something tangible; something relatable. The song titles say enough, really – distrust, denial, deplore. These are emotions everyone experiences at some point in their lives.
Medusa Truth, Part 1 is a captivating listen and an incredibly fulfilling one. It will leave you yearning for
Part 2 to come out so you may continue the epic post-apocalyptic journey the band has paved for us. And this is one of those instances where the journey is far more alluring than the destination – in fact, as long as Omit is leading, I’m not sure I’d ever want this one to end.
