THE FORESHADOWING is a gothic/doom Metal band from Italy which has recently released their second studio album. So three years after their really good debut concept CD called "Days Of Nothing", their new album "Oionos" , which is aGreek word and means 'The Omen' , comes to impress us even more. In comparison to "Days Of Nothing", THE FORESHADOWING continue in the same general direction, but in my opinion vast improvements have been made leading to a result that surpasses every expectations.

First of all, let's start with the lyrics. It seems that all of the songs have a common theme and basis in the lyrics talking about war and its consequences: death, loneliness , sorrow ,hate, loss of hope and of loved ones. So I could probably say this is a concept album about war. This can be seen not only in the lyrics but also in music (and mostly in some drum parts). Now about the music: compared to their debut album,THE FORESHADOWING are emphasizing more in the doom Metal music rather than gothic Metal making their sound more gloomy, dark, obsessive and even closer to MY DYING BRIDE, early ANATHEMA and earlyKATATONIA . THE FORESHADOWING have their own identity and style based on the classic gothic/doom Metal sound and also have managed from the first minute of"Oionos" to sound very familiar to the ears of a gothic/doom fan. And that is a great and remarkable accomplishment. The beautiful slow and mid-tempo doom guitar riffs combined perfectly with the melancholic keyboards create the proper gloomy atmosphere for the album. Also the vocalist Marco Benevento has improved much and with his amazing gothic clean vocals manages to reproduce the sorrow, the darkness and the feelings of the lyrics. Simply a great work from all the members of the band.

The album starts with the military marching drumming style of"The Dawning" accompanied by a stunning main guitar riff and talks about loneliness when everything around you is lost and destroyed. The equally good "Outsiders" continues in the same stylewhile the title track "Oionos" has a heavier sound and riffs ending with Seth Siro (of SEPTIC FLESH ) reciting some Greek lyrics. The wonderful "Fallen Reign", which magnetises the listener from the first moment, is followed by a sorrowful Gregorian chant in the interlude "Soliloquium" leading perfectly to "Lost Humanity", one of the best songs of the album. The CD carries on with "Survivors Sleep", which is based only in the melancholic piano and the full of sadness vocals, and with "Chant Of Widows" talking about war and the loss of loved ones. All hope is lost in "Hope She's In The Water", which ends with Roosvelt's speech taken from his declaration of war after Pearl Harbor. In the end the interesting doom and dark cover ofSting's 80's hit "Russians" leads us to the last song, the instrumental "Revelation 3:11" starting with the famous 1965 post- atomic speech of J. Robert Oppenheimer.

"Oionos" is great album with brilliant melodies and really good lyrics. I could say that every song is a highlight. This is an album that will absolutely satisfy every gothic/doom Metal fan. I strongly recommend it. "Oionos" is a release that shouldn't go unnoticed.