By: Dave Allan Guzda
Ovum | website | facebook | twitter | bandcamp | soundcloud |
Released on March 3, 2016 via Paradise Lost Records
tl;dr : a welcome journey with adventurous melody, rich creativity and varied sonic palette. Nostalgia is the most balanced, most immersive and most rewarding release from Ovum yet.
Ovum are a four piece “metal-oriented instrumental rock” band hailing from Toyko, Japan. They have been around since 2007. I’m new to Ovum so I checked out their discography to determine where their sound originated. It has evolved discernibly from their Under the Lost Sky EP. I found the debut to be fairly bland and uninspiring post-rock. With each release however, Ovum’s sound improved. Their sound became more defined, their song composition improved dramatically as did their musicianship and creativity. Their 2010 release, Joy to the World was good and Ascension (2013) was even better, marked by some impressive instrumental arrangements. With each release Ovum have delved deeper and deeper into a heavier and more aggressive sound. For me, if you are going to be an instrumental band, you really need to bring it… the music has to provide all of the emotional colour with the abscense of vocals.
So how does Ovum’s new release Nostaglia measure up?
It is certainly their most polished and consistent listen to date. On their bandcamp page the band states this album showcases an intentional “new direction” that focuses on “a heavier, more aggressive approach“. Indeed, on this EP they got it right. The opening title track rips right into an emphatic heavy riff after some atmospheric sound warping. It was as if the band was heralding the arrival of the new sound. The sound is reinvigorated, crisp and unquestionably infused with a sustained and palpable sonic aggression that has only lurked in the band’s previous releases. It is a remarkable improvement. The overall cohesiveness and composition of the songs is strikingly improved. Ovum finally sound like they are all on the same page; all it took was for them to plunge whole-heartedly into Metal.
The opener ‘Nostalgia’ is a great instrumental. The tempo jogs up and down with beautiful bridges between contrasting passages. Ovum’s guitar sound is clean and meaty when it reaches into heavier sonic spectrum. Guitarists Norikazu Chiba and Yosuke Jinnouchi showcase some stunning riffs, scales, harmonies and inviting melodies throughout this release. The band’s post-rock presence is still strong in the 11m song highlighted by abundant tremolo and expressive builds from soft to loud. Drummer Yu Tokuda is the engine that makes this track run. He bounces all over his kit with a fantastic energy as he changes the tempo again and again. He guides the course of this forcible instrumental. If this is the band’s new direction then chart that course!
Next is ‘The Nexus’ which clocks in at a <smirk> paltry 8:24m. It opens with a gentle guitar melody that confidently strides forward, Ovum allows it to breath before it explodes into a deliciously melodic and evocative section. Ovum’s musical creativity is at its finest as the song rises and falls with charming melodies that crash into metallic belligerence. Ovum really allow the melodies on ‘The Nexus’ to develop, stretch out and resonate. The EP ends with the 15m monster ‘Bleeding Grace’. Like ‘The Nexus’, ‘Grace’ opens softly with serene guitar. The track meanders forward slowly gaining intensity before launching into some sharp edgy riffs. 15m is a long time for a single track and it derails occasionally but overall, it creates a powerful and engaging sentiment.
The three song EP is over 30m of music. I was left wanting more and excited about Ovum’s future in light of their bold new sound. Ovum have found their voice! There is an distinct new confidence and cohesion with Ovum on Nostaglia. It is a welcome journey with adventurous melody, rich creativity and varied sonic palette. Nostalgia is the most balanced, most immersive and most rewarding release from Ovum yet. If you enjoy instrumental post-rock/post-metal or metal, then please give this a listen.
