REVIEW: Om’s “Advaitic Songs”
Om continue to extend the potential of their music in leaps and bounds, and with Advaitic Songs (Drag City), what is religious and sacred is reflected by the addition of more orchestral, progressive rock, and classical themes into their songs to where what you hear is much more than the sludge and stoner grooves Om fans have known them for. Or perhaps it’s a continuation of what they represent and have become. They’re now along the lines of Celtic Frost, Voivod, and even DJ Shadow for adding things that may not be expected at first, but are a welcome addition to theri style. In fact, the second third of “Gethsemane” sounds like something DJ Shadow could use to create a new mix of “In/Flux”, and maybe he already has.
With a name like Advaitic Songs, a look at the origins of the word (Sanskrit) shows that it is meant to be spiritual, as it is believed that when one reaches a level of understanding one’s true self and a spiritual entity, they will be liberated, and one would assume achieve full contentment. The music can be considered a metaphorical step-by-step process of the levels in order to reach a certain level. This is not the type of metal that will be for everyone,
especially with two tracks running close to 10 1/2 minutes, but for those who enjoy their brand of sludge and stoner metal with adventure and concept along the way, this is a very moving and perhaps motivational album. In a small way, Om are trying to tell listeners, at the most basic level, to step out of what you know and be willing to take in the unknown. By doing so, the end result may be more fulfilling than you realize. In a different way, much of the peaks and valleys described in the lyrics is one of metal’s greatest trademarks, to try to get out of the ugliness of the low in order to obtain something much better, regardless of what that better is. If anything, it is yet another passage of metal that grows from a core that many didn’t think would expand as it has in the last 40+ years.
SOME STUFFS: Om deliver new video and November tour dates | This Is Book's Music posted: 02 Nov at 1:10 pm
[...] you haven’t picked up Om’s album (my review of which can be read here), do so. If you have been listening to it since its release, check out the video they made for [...]