Omegaeternum is a new band.
But make no mistake, 1248, their debut album, was created by Sorghal (vocals/guitar/keyboards, Nahar, ex-Nehëmah, ex-Caïnan Dawn), Arawn (guitar), Sistre (drums, Les Chants de Nihil, Bestial Nihilism, Gotholocaust) and ÖberKommander (bass, Gotholocaust, Les Chants de Nihil, Natremia…) and is released by Ván Records.
The album opens with Ye Incantation, an introduction in which a rhythm that seems to rage in the background arrives slowly, but is fully expressed as soon as it encounters The Endless Quietus, while giving real space to the vocal parts. Tortured harmonics find their way in to feed the mysterious touch of the track, which suddenly becomes more mystical as it slows down before returning to its primal rage to lead us into The Devious Deceivers, whose opening moments are far more dissonant. The unhealthy, heavy but fascinating Old School roots are at work on this haunting track, complemented by majestic keyboards that stand in stark contrast to the furious howls, but the track is long, and it flares up into a more violent unholy tornado before giving way again to the disturbing melodies that soften to give way to 1248: The Symbols Swallower, the first part of the eponymous central triptych. The rhythm immediately kicks in and gets thicker, but there’s also a little more diversity in the vocals, which at times really come into their own as the perfect spearhead of the track and companion to the keyboards, before a shadow of melancholy returns on 1248: The Silent Tears of the Stone Giant. The track is decidedly quieter, and acts as a melodious interlude, but retains this melodic mood when 1248: Echoes from the Depths comes along, bringing with it blast and piercing screams. We’re then confronted with quite contradictory elements, but they respond wonderfully to each other, especially on the majestic finale that leads to My Inner Decline, where duality acts again, offering many moments of soothing aural nostalgia. Waves of savagery are still in store to punctuate our path to the lengthy In Outerverse Slumber, a track with which the musicians intend to pour out their last dose of darkness with this oppressive approach where we recognize their inspirations, both ferocious and icy – especially that heady solo followed by the moment of floating – which haunt the entirety of the riffs until the last ceremonious moments.
The musicians of Omegaeternum have truly poured all their soul and darkness into this debut album. 1248 can be off-puttingly long, alternating striking riffs, sometimes very violent and sometimes melodious, but always intense.
90/100