A record that lives up to the band's potential - A review of Omnium Gatherum's The Burning Cold

The Burning Cold marks a vast improvement over the boring predecessor Grey Heavens as Finnish melodic death metal sextet Omnium Gatherum offers some of its most inspired songwriting in many years. Instead of simply delivering fast death metal with melodic guitar sounds and depressive keyboard soundscapes, this album actually oozes with atmosphere.

Things kick off very well with the slow, ominous and distorted instrumental opener ''The Burning''. Old problems seem to haunt the band when the actual opening track and single ''Gods Go First'' kicks off nervously and doesn't fit to the amazing instrumental overture but the band manages to slow things down and turn them around by including futuristic keyboard sounds to give the track some depth after a rough start. 

Things improve even further with the next tune and single ''Refining Fire'' that develops an epic atmosphere thanks to a diversified mid-paced structure focusing on outstanding guitar work while the vocals are less domineering and give the song some space to unfold. 

The futuristic touch can also be found in the brilliant ''Over the Battlefield'' that would do justice to any soundtrack of an epic science-fiction movie. The mysterious melodies contrast the combative death metal vocals very well while occasional extended instrumental passages slow the song down at the right moments and give it an extra layer of atmosphere and depth. 

The record keeps the momentum until its end with a track like ''Be the Sky'' that combines aggressiveness and melody brilliantly while the calmer instrumental bridge is again an emotional highlight. 

''The Frontline'' even uses acoustic guitar passages and could be described as intellectual progressive extreme metal track that might qualify as this record's most ambitious song and even as a highlight in Omnium Gatherum's extensive discography. 

The Japanese version of this release includes two more bonus tracks and clearly offers value for money.

After the disappointing predecessor, Omnium Gatherum has finally managed to reproduce the unique atmosphere of its live shows on a regular studio album. I'm still waiting for the band's first live album which is long overdue twenty-two years after its foundation. Before such an album might finally see the light of day and become the group's most essential release, one can't go wrong with The Burning Cold which is easily one of the band's very best records. If you like melodic death metal with epic, futuristic and progressive atmospheres, you can't get around this unexpected highlight.

Final rating: 85%