The Finnish melodic death metal veterans Omnium Gatherum have very quietly put together a very long string of solid albums, and their latest Century Media platter Grey Heavens is certainly no exception. Once again working with the acclaimed Dan Swano behind the mixing desk, the band have come up with an album that offers no real surprises but delivers the goods as they seem to time and time again. With catchy yet crushing tracks like "The Pit" (complete with some sensational back and forth interplay between the growls and clean vocals), the more mid-paced 'Amon Amarth meets Amorphis' of "Skyline", the keyboard soaked "Frontiers", and the atmospheric, progressive death metal of "Majesty and Silence", there is so much classy, majestic, yet extreme grandeur to dive into here. Chugging riffs, spooky atmospherics, and venomous growls permeate the raging "Rejuvenate!", and the bands love for Insomnium creeps in on the moody, melodic crushers "Foundation", "Ophidian Sunrise", and "The Great Liberation".
I can't stress enough how wonderful the keyboard work of Aapo Koivisto is throughout Grey Heavens; check him out dueling with guitarists Markus Vanhala & Joonas Koto on the vengeful "Storm Front", or carrying a heavy load on the atmospheric title track. His majestic tones, textures, and colors add plenty of proggy goodness to most of these songs, turning what is an otherwise very good album into a great one. Once again, Omnium Gatherum nails it, so make sure you don't miss this one.
Track Listing
1) The Pit
2) Skyline
3) Frontiers
4) Majesty and Silence
5) Rejuvenate
6) Foundation
7) The Great Liberation
8) Ophidian Sunrise
9) These Grey Heavens
10) Storm Front
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