Orme
Orme
From Bandcamp, "Through Trepanation Recordings, ORME are here to buck all trends with a double album of only two songs, that not only take in the staples of Drone and Doom Metal, but offer the acidic textured guitar spatterings of Psychedelic Rock, the serene stillness of Ambient music, and even the alluring build-ups that propel Post-Rock forwards." "Nazarene" is the first song. The opening tones are psychedelic, from all the reverb in the guitars, and the mood is dark and somber. A slow burn comes in from there, as distorted guitars and drums lurk in the background. Spoken words come in, sounding like a lapsed preacher speaking against Christianity. He gets angry by the end of his rant. The song stays very tense from there, until a lead breaks the silence with plenty of effects. Approaching the end, the sounds are both heavier and darker. The ending ambient noise is very effective.
"Onward to Sarnath" is nearly an hour in length, so there is a lot of time for the sound to develop, and the band takes full advantage of that. Sarnath is in Pradesh, India, and is where, circa 528 BCE, at 35 years of age, Gautama Buddha taught his first sermon after attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. A distorted guitar approaches around the eight-minute mark, hardening the tense mood, and sustained vocals follow with long hums. I feel like joining the monks for meditation, and the didgeridoo notes fit perfectly with the taut sound. Vocals and drums ease in, and suddenly, you are feeling the effects of the magic mushrooms you ate earlier. An evil voice lurks in the background, as the others begin a dance ritual. Leads scream at the 40-minute mark, and you can feel the song leading to a closing crescendo.
Overall, I really enjoyed the album and its multitude of sounds. Drone music can be boring, but this album held my attention throughout. The band is very good at developing various elements, throwing them in your face, and then letting them back off. The backing elements were nasty at times. Give this album your attention.
8 / 10
Excellent
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production
"Orme" Track-listing:
1. Nazarene
2. Onward To Sarnath
Orme Lineup:
Tom Clements - Guitars, Vocals
Jimmy Long - Bass, Didgeridoo
Luke Thelin - Drums, Silence
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