The Omega Syndicate The Eve of the Holocaust DCDR / 6 tracks / 76.26 mins Play Sample:   56K Dialup   Broadband Download Sample:   500K   1.5Mb (Excerpt from track(s) 'Yersinias Genesis')

'Control Freak' is initially all rather dark, swirling and mysterious. An almost playful sequence strikes up morphing beautifully as all manner of cosmic effects fly over the top. Vast heavy bass flourishes explode onto the scene, mellotron adding a soothing element. Slow wistful leads hover in the middle of the mix. Sampled speech telling us that 'there is nothing wrong with your television set' is used effectively (I can't remember which old TV series it was taken from- 'Twilight Zone' maybe?) then all Hell is let loose as the bass flourishes surge, forming a bludgeoning sequence of Earthquake proportions. A lead line does briefly try and provide accompaniment but didn't really do it for me, I am quite happy just to absorb the waves of power surging through my body. 'Secrets in the Sand' gets straight into lovely lush tron with meandering flutey Eastern backing. It really comes alive however when a rapid sequence enters in the fourth minute. This is soon followed by a second. These are allowed to bed down before synth solos are deployed, some of them blistering while others more subtle. 'While my filter Gently Sweeps' features yet more Mellotron. A ballsey sequence contrasts these lush tones beautifully. A second higher register line of pulsations hits just the right mark, tron swelling in appreciation. Things don't finish there however as a lead line and another sequence try to do justice to the wonderful pulsating brew. 'Eerie Interval' is one of the band's very few purely atmospheric tracks. It works extremely well, the title summing it up perfectly. It is an excellent piece of music in its own right but also gives a break in proceedings which only gives what is to come even greater dynamic effect. 'Yersinia's Genesis' immediately heralds a return to sequences. These are subtle at first but a bass throb emerges hinting at things to come. Rhythms enter in the seventh minute and we start to storm forward. This is thunderous stuff supported by lead lines nestling in the middle of the mix. A cracking track. 'Omnicron' initially makes great use of melodic sequences and positive (even happy!) staccato lead line all backed by mellotron washes. A kick ass beat strikes up and in no time at all we have an infectious body moving piece of music. Searing lead lines join in the fun finishing things off in euphoric fashion. The audio CD just reviewed has had some tarting up but the DVD that forms part of this package is the concert exactly as it was- warts and all. It does have multiple camera angles so there is some sense of movement but even so it is of home movie type quality- still entertaining though!

This album / DVD was initially sold at their gig in Hull on 23rd August 2008 as a thank you to people who turned up. I will get all I can but I'm really not sure how long this title will be around. (DL)

This page is part of a frame set. If you can't see the information strip to the left of the screen then click on the smd logo above.