A new EP release from OMETRA comes through with a soiree of heavy rock undertones that breed something unique as they blend elements of progressive, alternative, metal, and post-grunge together and it's all done with a connective and inventive approach to songwriting.
The Choices EP wastes very little time showcasing the band's outside-the-box approach with the first track "The Cloak of Unmade Decisions" which comes in with a particular rhythm that is driving and vast but quickly grows into a heavier sound.
The way this track starts off automatically gives you the sense that this record is going to be something a little different, which it is.
The EP covers a lot of ground and comes through with plenty of layers and textures to hold onto. There are some great time signatures and rhythms throughout it but it's really the energy that helps all of the progressive songwriting elements work so well.
The energy throughout this record is completely thriving and there are more than a few surprises around its corners.
"Lowest End" is a track that breeds more of a 90s underground alt-rock and grunge feel but it comes with this vast undertone that lets it feel expansive.
The vocals come through super powerfully on songs like this one which creates an almost anthemic tonality that hits hard and leaves its mark.
A lot of the tracks on this record end up being quite powerful and deliver that vastness and spaciousness in their underbellies which is part of the staple feel and theme of this track as a whole.
There's also something almost theatrical about this record. It feels so in-depth and when you listen to it in full, you have to snap yourself back to reality again when it's all over.
This is most certainly an EP you listen to from beginning to end. Listening to one or two tracks may give you some of those Staples I mentioned before but those two songs alone will not give you the full spectrum of what the EP has to offer as a whole.
These songs have stories told and each track has a different mood but is still confluent and connects in different ways.
The EP feels almost like a concept record.
Some of the riffs on this record are deepening and heavy and they managed to bring together those deep elements with certain pop tonalities at times creating songs that are catchy but still have a dark edginess to them.
I find this to be quite an enticing combination and it works perfectly for the flow of this record.
My favorite track on this record happens to be the closing one. It's a huge track spanning over 7 minutes in length. The song is called "The Trials of Unfinished Business" and is one of the tracks that hit the hardest in my opinion.
This track has a punch to it and a heavy-handed darkness in its undertone along with layered vocals that chant and harmonize throughout its course.
This is one of those songs that feel theatrical as well. The way that there are two sets of vocals that bounce on top of each other is brilliant. I haven't heard something quite like it before.
It's not overwhelming but instead, perfectly balanced and clear. You can hear the thriving energy bouncing back and forth between those sets of vocals.
The fact that the whole record is vocally driven is important. The vocal performances throughout this EP match the energy level of the band as well so you have this explosion of heavy rock that hits you from all angles.
Songs have depth and meaning if you pay attention to the lyrics, and the whole EP is quite an experience.
This is one of those records that is like an escape. It pulls you away from wherever you are and whatever you're doing and takes you into this whole other world for a chunk of time.
It's almost like reading a book or watching a film.
Again, this is an EP that's to be listened to from start to finish because that's the way it was meant to be heard.
This is how you can get the full escape and experience of it all.
A lot is going on with these songs. There are tons of textures and layers that sit on top of each other adding that depth and atmosphere that the songs give off.
This is indeed an EP with its own atmosphere and it's best listened to with headphones on so that you can soak all of that in.
Check this record out and take a deep dive into it. It's a lot of fun and yes, it's dark and edgy but there are a ton of other elements and layers to it that you can feed into as well.
Check this record out as soon as you can and remember where you heard it first.
Comments