Om sprang from the ashes of doom pioneers Sleep. When Matt Pike went on to form High on Fire, Al Cisneros and Chris Hakius went on to form Om. From their first album to their lasted masterpiece, you can hear the musical direction they are heading in.

This is a meditative soundscape. The feel of this album reminds me of an Indian raga [maybe it I the sitar at the beginning of the album]. This Steve Albini [Big Black, Rapeman] produced album is hypnotic. The vocals are a lot clearer than the previous albums and Amos’ drumming brings so much more dimension to the music. Don’t get me wrong, Hakius is an awesome drummer but I can hear the difference between Hakius’ playing and Amos’ playing. Amos brings almost a jazz quality to his playing that adds fullness to the songs.

The album starts off with the close to 20 minute long song Thebes. Halfway through the song the bass distortion kicks in. Unlike the 2004’s Variations on a Theme, the distortion on God is Good is not earth shattering. For those who like the low-fi bass distortion, you may find the distortion lacking the oomph that the early albums had. But I feel it adds an ambiance to the whole album that takes on a journey through death [which is the common theme on the album].

Meditation is the Practice of Death brings something that we normally do not hear on an Om record; Flute. The flute solo, by Lorraine Rath, is superb. Very cool. Cremation Gnat I and II is a change of pace from the normal Om opuses. They are both kinda funky and automatically make you tap you feet.

The only negative I have to say about the album is that the last 2 songs are two short. They are groovy and I wish they lasted longer. Other than that I think it is an awesome album and all card-carrying doomster should have it in their arsenal.

Rating: 9.5/10

Get it At Drag City

The artwork (by A Storm of Light’s Josh Graham) and tracklist of Shrinebuilder’s debut album (due out in the autumn on Neurot Recordings) has been revealed.

The “doom supergroup” consisting of Saint Vitus/Obsessed/Spirit Caravan/Hidden Hand guitar hero Scott “Wino” Weinrich, Neurosis/Tribes of Neurot leader Scott Kelly, former Sleep and current Om bassist Al Cisneros, and Melvins drummer Dale Crover are set to tour the US later this year and are planning a tour in Europe next year, but nothing is set in stone yet.

via DOOM SUPERGROUP SHRINEBUILDER REVEAL ALBUM DETAILS | Terrorizer.com.

God is Good – September 8th on Drag City
September 8th will see the release of the forthcoming studio album by OM.

The album is titled God is Good

Al Cisneros

• Thebes
• Meditation is the Practice of Death
• Cremation Ghat I
• Cremation Ghat II

The album was recorded March 2009 by Steve Albini at Electrical Audio, Chicago. Updates will be available via Drag City, omvibratory.com and here.

I can’t wait for this! The last album Pilgrimage was an incredible combination of doom and meditation. I think Al has grown since their first album Variations on a Them. If you have not checked them out yet you have to make it a priority!