ALBUM REVIEW: Omen – Of Virtue
Hot off the heels of a European tour supporting BEING AS AN OCEAN, Michigan-based metalcore quartet OF VIRTUE treat established and new fans alike to their new album Omen. Known for pushing genre boundaries, this new release takes another leap into the eclectic sound OF VIRTUE have created for themselves. It has been said that the band supply elements that fans of any style of music can enjoy, and this album definitely has something for everyone.
It begins with the four tracks that made up their 2022 EP, Sinner. As choices for opening songs go, Hypocrite is a very solid one. The jumpy electronic elements paired with hard-hitting verses make for an energetic and powerful song. Throughout these four tracks, vocalist Tyler Ennis displays a wide range of vocal skill, belting out some impressive uncleans and soulful melodic singing.
A.N.X.I.E.T.Y. is one for the moshers, hounding the listener with a powerful chant that builds a frustration that just needs to be released. And that’s what this song embodies, being fed up with the stresses and mental strains that stop us from functioning. The band have spoken about the influences for this album, some really hard experiences that changed them as people and made them question everything, and this song has an anger in it that cannot be ignored. It’s a track that’s sure to act as a therapeutic escape for those who need it.
Another stand out track from the album has got to be Cut Me Open. Its melodic sing along sections are unmatched, the riffs from Damon Tate and Michael Valadez are chuggy and dominant, and drums from Ryan Trinh hit you right in the face. Pair this with some really well-placed pop sounding influences and a meaty breakdown, what more could you ask for?
The title track starts off with an atmospheric intro that almost sounds like something you’d hear in a horror film. This changes up quickly though when a hard-hitting riff takes over for a short while. Ennis’ clean vocals shine through well in this track, but that doesn’t mean we don’t get some guttural uncleans as well. Overall, it’s a really well rounded track, the rhythm of the lyrics especially make for a good listen. There’s also a feature on this album from none other than DAYSEEKER frontman Rory Rodriguez on Floating. The band’s sound meshes really well with Rodriguez’s vocal tone, and paired with Ennis’ cleans, it’s truly a great listen.
Overall, this is an impressive album that OF VIRTUE should be proud of. To be able to listen to a song that one minute includes a pop sounding melody, and thirty seconds later throws you into a maddening breakdown surrounded by chuggy riffs, guttural vocals and powerful rhythms is a huge feat. Omen is a great listen for anyone who likes some experimental metal.
Rating: 9/10
Omen is set for release on September 29th via Arising Empire.
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