OMB: SwineSong

An Israeli Progressive collective, OMB (previously known as Of Marbles Black) contain members of Amaseffer, Reign Of The Architect and Dark Serpent, who between them produce something that merely nods in passing to their own respective bands while unearthing an even further reaching progressive ethos. Theatrical in places and with odd little spoken word intros, outros and interruptions, SwineSong is an uncompromising blend of metal, prog, avant-garde, and well whatever else is to hand at any given time.

The musical trio behind this unnerving pattern consists of Yuval Kramer on guitar, Yuval Tamir on drums and Or Rozenfeld on bass, while singer Davidavi Dolev brings an everything and the kitchen sink style to already far reaching ideas. In places it all simply becomes too much, the likes of "Mother Gazelle, Father Horse" being over bearing and just the wrong side of ambition over execution. However "An Ordinary Caveman Sings An Ode To Obsession" proves, if you can handle the almost stage style vocals, that the cacophony of drum rolls, riffs, growls, screams, screeches, and tempo changes, can become something really quite captivating and involving.

The problem arrives however when "Someday My Prince Will Come", or "Oh Mrs. Wade! You Shouldn't Have!" stubbornly refuse to let you in, leaving the impression you are watching an intricate play through the smallest of windows, only every now and again truly glimpsing the full picture in amongst snatches of less intelligible dialogue and actions. As with such a performance the skill and dedication required to piece all of this together is unquestionable but as ever that doesn't guarantee an engaging proposition that will entice you back for more. Instead big chorus backing vocals, operatic yells, strings, trumpet and ever changing percussive excursions all flash past, piquing the curiosity without ever really convincing it to fully engage or take part with the maelstrom of ideas and colours splashed on the canvass.

The more adventurous you are, the more interesting SwineSong will become and some will pooh-pooh my reservations. However in the main this is an excellently crafted album that just misses the mark on too many occasions. When the sweet spot is struck, the majesty revealed is breathtaking, when it is merely grazed or missed altogether, fatigue and disinterest set in...

Track Listing
1. Milosh Had Seen Better Days
2. These Walls…
3. An Ordinary Caveman Sings an Ode to Obsession
4. Mother Gazelle, Father Horse
5. Someday My Prince Will Come
6. A Smaller Dose of Tyranny
7. Undergrowth
8. Oh Mrs. Wade! You Shouldn't Have!
9. Better Days Indeed
10. The Cricket's Broken Violin

Added: September 21st 2013
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: OMB on BandCamp
Hits: 3449
Language: english

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