After some time away from the scene, the Bay Area's very own Ominous Ruin return with a new vocalist and their colossal sophomore album, Requiem.
As spring arrives and the bitter cold retreats back to the depths, lethal amounts of pollen, violent weather, and utterly devastating new music bulldoze their way into the season. With every flower that blossoms, a new song, EP, or album is announced. Which brings us here today. Ominous Ruin, the technical brutal death metal quintet hailing from San Francisco, California, is known for their flow of balanced, blistering fast, and intricate patterns with melodic, groovy, and bone-crushing notes. This year the group welcomes new vocalist Crystal Rose, who appeared on the song "Deception" from their first full-length album, 'Amidst Voices that Echo in Stone.' Along with her arrival came the announcement of their second album, 'Requiem,' which was later released on May 9th through Willowtip Records!
On March 7th, Ominous Ruin released the first single and official music video for "Seeds of Entropy," a coldly calculated sonic assault on listeners that debuts vocalist Crystal's downright filthy vocal range that personally gave me CorpseGrinder vibes from the get-go. The first single of an upcoming album can sometimes be a hit or miss for me, but not this time. From start to finish, this track displays the Crystals' vocal range and the powerhouse of instruments behind her. Then in early April, "Staring into the Abysm" was offered to the world, and might I just say, holy shit. Unlike its predecessor, the band's second single opens with a grand introduction as the curtains open and the spotlight brightens the stage. Wasting no time at all, it dives into a labyrinth of guitar riffs and heated drum parts coming at you in a frenzy, not before evening out with a tasteful and soothing bass solo. Even with it coming out at a little over three minutes long, I found the song to feel much shorter due to the speed and chaos it delivers. And to finish the line of singles was "Eternal," a six-minute vessel of trembling precision and earth-shattering brutality.
As for the remainder of the album, well, one could say Ominous Ruin covered all bases and then some within the realm of their musical style. "Bane of Syzygial Triality" is a soul-stirring interlude that gives a moment of rest before the insanity that follows shortly after. "Divergent Anomaly" brings back those 2000s laser-fast and precise tech death vibes, while "Fractal Abhorrence," which starts off with doomy electronic elements, transitions into slightly dialed-back and methodical instrumentation, focused on building the scene and atmosphere for the story told by vocalist Crystal. "Architects of Undoing" is a blend of lethal guitar and drum parts, along with vocals, but repeats a sort of ebb and flow, where these sections are balanced out by midtempo moments. At almost eight minutes long, this type of song structure is refreshing and keeps things interesting. And finishing off this outstanding album is the title track, "Requiem." A true embodiment of not just the masterful musicianship but combining every essential aspect of their sound into it so tastefully. Not overcrowded or dizzying, instead orchestrated with feel and finesse.
Since the band's formation in 2010, OR has stayed consistent with their mix of technical and brutal death metal, which is clearly heard in this record. Unlike, I feel, a lot of extreme metal today, 'Requiem' pays tribute to the roots of its particular style while embracing the newer waves and still retaining an identity in its own way. I haven't been as consistent with my death metal intake, primarily since not much grabs my attention, but this album did without question. Crystal Roses' vocals are, in my opinion, a huge addition to OR's overall sound, and she absolutely crushed it on these songs, and I cannot wait to hear what comes from them in the future.
Lineup:
Vocals: Crystal Rose
Guitars: Alex Bacey
Guitars: Joel Guernsey
Bass: Mitch Yoesle
Drums: Harley Blandford
Artwork: Pär Olofsson
Mixed & Mastered by: Alex Bacey
FFO: Inanimate Existence, The Faceless, Deeds of Flesh, Entheos
