Omnivortex – Circulate (Review)

Omnivortex are a Finnish death metal band and this is their second album.

Circulate is a 44-minute juggernaut of technical death metal, presented as a emotively textured work that bleeds quality and class. Omnivortex reveal themselves to be a distinct cut above the average, and Circulate is extremely enjoyable and satisfying because of this.

This is a technical death metal album that doesn’t sound particularly of the style, despite the fact that it obviously is. By that I mean that it’s unusually expressive, boasts a much warmer and more organic sound than is the overly polished norm for the style, and is much more emotive than you usually find in the genre. Basically, Omnivortex play tech death with passion and heart, and also throw in plenty of hooks and memorable moments, all while underpinning everything with their superlative technical skill.

The songs balance aggression and atmosphere, frequently blending the two with finesse. Twisted grooves get the body moving quite nicely, while the emotion-charged delivery really hits hard. There’s a dissonant aspect too, adding a menacing presence to proceedings, as well as a blackened influence that can be felt in places. Finally, I should mention the multitude of quality riffs on Circulate – they’re just everywhere! Some of these are driven by a meaty thrash metal power source, while others are shapeshifting amorphous monsters that exist in their own right. Omnivortex are creative riff-crafters, that’s for sure.

Special mention to the vocals too – a full and meaty range of feeling-rich screams, growls, shouts, and roars; the vocals enhance the music in very complementary ways.

This is a very well-written and well-performed album, although that reads like an understatement. Basically, if you’re a fan of extreme metal that exists a little outside of the norm, yet not so much so as to be unrecognisable, then Circulate is one for you.

Essential listening.