Hungry for some modern melodic death metal with ridiculously catchy pop influences? Well, your dinner has just been served. OMNIUM GATHERUM – OG for close friends – has been offering remarkable pieces of melodic death metal for already twenty- five shining years. While storming through these ferocious decades, the band has convinced worldwide legions of heavy metal lovers by releasing unstoppable musical onslaughts and touring relentlessly all over the world. "Any sort of popularity hasn't come overnight for OG, and rising to that "next level" has sometimes taken a considerably long time, but one thing has been set in stone: progress has been inevitable. In other words: a lot of great things have happened along the way but the journey hasn't been the easiest one," says longtime singer Jukka Pelkonen. Described as "Adult-Oriented Death Metal," their music features catchy hooks, searing solos, thunderous rhythms, inventive keys, and vocals that shift between aggression and melody with ease.

The album has nine songs, and the title track is first. You could call this a mood setting instrumental, and it is filled with wondrous keyboards, sparkling guitar melodies, and a good deal of weight. "My Pain" was one of the early singles released from the album, and the aggressive riff is supported with thick bass notes and keyboard textures. Although Jukka's vocals are some of the fiercest in the business, the melodies in the guitars and the clean vocals help to temper some of the weight. That sound is signature OG, and no one else can do it as well as they can. Markus's leads are also outstanding. Not only does he burn up the fretboard, but his sense of melody and scales is perfect. "The Last Hero" is another advanced video and has it all...aggressive and melodic guitar work, keyboards, and deadly harsh vocals. Listen to the chorus here, it's fully open like the throttle on a motorcycle reaching top speed.

"The Darkest City" swells with a full, rich sound, and it's evident that the band knows how to use keyboards in their music. It has bright melodies from the lead breaks, and more clean vocals in the chorus, another area that the band doesn't shy away from. They also let the song breathe, as the bridge after the second chorus is beautiful. "Walking Ghost Phase" is the third video from the album, and it has a groove that is infectious. When the chorus rolls around, I immediately want to sing along. "Streets of Rage" has some excellent melodies to go along with the deep aggression of the vocals. The melodies shine like a polished quarter but the don't take away from the weight of the song…rather, the two live together in harmony. "Barricades" is faster and more energetic, but the band still hits every transition with deadly accuracy. There is a warmth here…one that invites you in with a smile, even know it seems to be dark.

"Road Closed Ahead" is the final song, and it lets the listener wind down a bit with a slower and darker groove that gets stuck in your head. The album doesn't follow the standard formula of brutality softened by melody…it redefines the balance altogether. The weight here is immense. Riffs crash down with percussive force, and the harsh vocals tear through the mix with a ferocity few in the genre can match. Yet, amid this aggression, the music never succumbs to chaos. The guitars shimmer with melodic grace, weaving intricate harmonies that feel transcendent, while the keyboards act as a spectral counterpoint—lifting the songs into something grander, almost cinematic. The result is a sound both devastating and breathtaking, equal parts storm and sunrise, and another contender for AOTY.