Onera: Olde

Most people find it quaint the way certain stores insist on using "olde," an invented alternate of "old," in their names. You know what I'm talking about—stores like "Ye Olde Gift Shop," or whatever. I won't write off this EP because of its name, but I am interested in what Onera meant. I'm sure it doesn't mean "Ye Olde Doom Album" but you never know. If the cover is any indication, "olde" probably just means old. Despite the title, Onera is anything but old. Sure, the members of the band have been on the scene for a while but the band is entirely new. This release, the band's first, comes to us independently but the guys are hoping for some much-deserved label attention in the coming weeks. Even though I have no pull in that regard, I can say that Onera leaves a good impression and that I hope others will discover what these guys are up to.

There are only 3 tracks on this release, but they are all at least 7 or 8 minutes. The band describes itself as doom metal, a fair label, but the band won't strike most listeners as doom in the most familiar sense. The music here is dark and riffy but it is more melodic than most of the doom acts on the scene. The singing, clean and clear, sounds good but some listeners will prefer something with a little more edge. I can hardly blame them; extreme music so often uses rough vocals that clean ones are occasionally jarring, a curious irony. I tend to prefer doom metal with rougher vocals but I admit that it's nice to hear the lyrics once in a while, especially on songs like these, all of which are exploring deeply personal feelings and experiences. It's also nice to hear a doom metal band that is willing to take chances with melody rather than just heaping on riff after riff. Don't get me wrong, I love riffy doom metal but I admire Onera's efforts to resist sounding like everyone else.

The band's name, "Onera," is a Latin term for "burden" or "weight," a fitting name for a doom metal band, especially one in a crowded market. The band deserves a careful listen, especially for its songwriting. I look forward to hearing more from Onera.

Track Listing:
1. Unruhe
2. Still as Stone
3. Cold Hand's Caress

Added: August 30th 2016
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
Hits: 1643
Language: english

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