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OMINUM
War For Peace EP

Self-released (2023)
Rating: 6/10

Last year, Swedish thrashers Ominum released a sturdy debut full-length album with Monument; a solid thrash offering that sounded like Testament at their most aggressive. Those details are present again as the Gothenburg trio throws out three hefty tracks which bring plenty of bone-crunching riffs.

You can slot this band in the death-thrash category because it has that sort of barking vocal chops, but the chesty spits from guitarist Berno Jozić remain a sticking point for me. Even so, musically you get a punky energy not too far removed from Anthrax or Testament – the bass has a crystal clear crunch and the drums rip with vigour.

The guitar solos delightfully squirm and the band really does have an eye for a melody as opening tune ‘Divided We Stand’ proves. ‘Land Of Hate’ brings more of that mid-paced riff crunch, although the melody leaves me craving a less generic and less contemporary growl. But it is what is, and by the time the closing title track steams in my attention span has waned.

It’s a shame because I really enjoyed the music which at times is very groove-based and crisp. I can’t see the band ever moving away from this style vocally, but this isn’t the progression I was expecting.

Neil Arnold

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