Title: Dreams in Formaline
Artist: Omega Lithium
Genre: Industrial Metal / Gothic Metal
Release Date: 18th September 2009
Label: Drakkar Records
Introduction
OMEGA LITHIUM is a female-fronted newcomer band from Croatia that plays a blend of metal, gothic, and industrial music, combining heavy riffs, typical rock elements, sharp electro beats, mechanical coldness, and a completely unique ghostly atmosphere. Having formed in 2007, they are still quite new to the scene and are releasing their debut album ‘Dreams in Formaline’ (executive-produced by DOPE STARS INC.’s own Victor Love) on September 18th via Drakkar Records. The band, which consists of the beautiful 19-year-old Mya Mortensen (vocals), Malice Rime (guitar, synths, background vocals), Zoltan Harpax (bass) and Torsten Nihiff (drums and percussions), is then set to support German folk metallers SUBWAY TO SALLY on their winter tour throughout Germany in order to present the songs of their debut album to a receptive German audience.
Album Review
To begin at the beginning: We all know that mixing metal, gothic, and industrial is nothing particularly new, and that there are already lots of female-fronted metal bands, especially in the gothic metal area. So why should OMEGA LITHIUM be any different and stick out of that quite inscrutable mass? As for me, the answer is quite simple: Of course they don’t reinvent the wheel (and nobody expects them to do so), but they are still way better than your average gothic metal band, and they deliver a debut album whose quality many bands have yet to achieve with their second or even third release.
One can already notice the band’s ambition and energy in the opener ‘Infest’ which is a good introduction to the characteristic sound of the band. Starting with great synth waves, the song then immediately conveys a dark, threatening vibe, with Mya’s harsh, rhythmic vocals taking the lead before the pounding guitar riffs enter the game and introduce the song’s heaviness and metallic groove. In the course of the song, the listener also not only gets to know Mya’s variable, rather deep and energetic voice, but also the subsidiary metal growls of guitar player Malice. Very nice opener that already presents a good combination of the band’s overall strengths!
The other songs follow up this sonic course and also reveal some very catchy chorus harmonies, for example in the songs ‘Stigmata’ (which was also chosen as the first single) and ‘Andromeda’, which might be my overall favourite track of the album, also because of its memorable heavy guitar riffs. Of course, at times one is reminded of bands such as LACUNA COIL (especially when it comes to Mya’s timbre and the alternating vocals of Mya and Malice) but OMEGA LITHIUM are nevertheless able to bring own elements into their music which prevent them from being just a copy of another band. Another striking point is their excessive use of orchestral samples that often contributes to an almost soundtrack-like vibe, e.g. in the above mentioned song ‘Andromeda’ or in ‘My Haunted Self’. I also liked the fact that all the different elements never feel out of place in their music but are always well incorporated into the overall sound. Some songs have a higher emphasis on gothic metal elements, such as ‘Angel’s Holocaust’ where Malice takes over the lead vocals in the verses (and even reminds of singers such as END OF GREEN’s Michelle Darkness), while others are more metal-influenced (‘Point Blank’ and ‘Andromeda’) or synth-laden (‘Factor:Misery’).
The powerful production and mature arrangement of this album are also things that deserve a honourable mention. The only complaint that I have is that there could have been more variety regarding tempo and the structure of the songs. All songs are rather similarly constructed and are sometimes lacking real highlights or breaks that could have made them even more interesting. Therefore it was quite hard to make out any favourite songs after first listen, but as I said before, considering that this is the very first release of the band, it is already a very ambitious work that of course still leaves space for further development and improvement.
Tracklist
01. Infest
02. Stigmata
03. My Haunted Self
04. Dreams in Formaline
05. Andromeda
06. Nebula
07. Snow Red
08. Hollow March
09. Factor:Misery
10. Angel's Holocaust
11. Point Blank
Line Up
Mya Mortensen - Vocals
Malice Rime - Guitar, Synths, Background Vocals
Zoltan Harpax - Bass
Torsten Nihiff - Drums, Percussions
Website
http://www.omegalithium.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/omegalithium
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 7.5
Sound: 8
Extras: -
Total: 7.75 / 10
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