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Chaos Omen is a black metal side-project from Necromorbus, a musician
that has worked with the likes of Watain, Katharsis, Armagedda, Ofermod, etc. This prolific Swede also owns and operates Necromorbus
Studio and runs his own label. Let Clarity Succumb was the second and final release
under this moniker, and was released in July 2006 on Nails of Christ.
Musically,
Chaos Omen is not too far off from the other bands that Necromorbus has been involved with. This is dark and sombre black
metal, with an emphasis on the possessed vocals and dreary guitar riffs. The bass provides an added sense of gloom, sometimes
expanding its role beyond that of just following the main guitar melodies. As for the guitars, there are subtle touches that
help the atmosphere in reaching a deeper level of morbidity, as open chords are utilized at the end of some riffs. The vocals
are just as important for this pitch-black vibe, maintaining a sense of corrupted humanity instead of sounding altogether
inhuman. The opening moments of "Old Wounds", in particular, includes the tormented screams of one who has not yet been swallowed
by the eternal abyss. The music features a variety of tempos and is rather dynamic, compared to many other bands. There are
a decent number of fast sections that employ tremolo melodies and fast-paced drums, but this represents only one aspect of
the band's character.
The production is underground yet clear. The guitar is a little thicker than what a lot of black
metal bands prefer to use, and the prominence of the bass adds to the wall of sound feeling. The result is pretty powerful,
allowing the songs to make a real impact. The tone is not all that cold; quite the contrary, it almost seems to be possessed
by the flames of Hell. This is similar to the sort of recording jobs that Necromorbus has done for Watain and Armagedda, though
a little uglier than an album like Sworn to the Dark, for example. The drumming is
at an appropriate level, being just high enough in the mix for everything to be heard but never distracting from the dismal
riffs.
Let Clarity Succumb shows some real potential and it is a shame that
Chaos Omen did not last long enough to record a full-length album. While countless one-dimensional bands pollute the scene
with horrible records, a project like this ceased to exist before being able to make its full contribution. For a one-man
band, this shows a good amount of skill in most areas. From the musicianship, songwriting, vocals and even
the recording, there is no real weakness to be found. Definitely worth a listen.
(26 Nov. 2011)
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