In The Woods... Omnio - Legacy Album Review

In The Woods
Omnio
Misanthropy Records
1997


When composer and guitarist Tchort left Green Carnation to become a part of the Emperor family, the surviving members of that original death metal band went on to form the now acclaimed In The Woods. Omnio being their second studio release, having established their sound previously with Heart of the Ages, a melodic and folk based scoring supports frills of hard rock and speed metal licks which keep surprising us in regular crescendos.


Mixing of male and female vocals give a dualistic delivery that manages to associate with a full spectrum of human feeling. The emotional element of this music cannot be denied. There is beauty and honour for the human condition, the exploration of passion and sensation is revelled in, the journey of life is depicted within the sound of the guitar and drum. A leading guitar slices with avant garde accuracy as a melodic and dirge like grip of music overtakes the pulses of driven rhythm.


Truly music for the heart, the sensational elements keep growing, and the progression takes us into the heights of something quite enjoyable, intense, and dearly beloved. There's nothing particularly scary or deathly about the sound, which is an unusual blessing as it gives us hardcore fans a chance to experience the sound without having our brains washed by the depression brigade. The epic power and sheer forward drive that qualifies this music to be in this genre is met with a glittering magic, similar to something from a musical or a film soundtrack.


Gothic crunches of distorted guitars mean we get to move our body to the swelling of the rock n roll, the synaesthetic appreciation of the melodic guitar gives the colour of sound so many flavours. Quality drumming with remarkable use of double kick, smash perhaps are toned down in the mix more than usual for this type of thing, the main stage is taken up by the vocals. It's all drama and show, with lots of genuine feels to give it credibility.