Individual thought patterns V.024: ITP REVEW: OM: GOD IS GOOD

Monday, January 25, 2010

ITP REVEW: OM: GOD IS GOOD

BAND: OM (SAN FRANCISCO/OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA- USA ) GENRE: STONER DOOM/DRONE LABEL: DRAG CITY RELEASE DATE: 9/29/2009
PREVIOUS RELEASES (CATALOG) :PILGRIMAGE (2007-SOUTHERN LORD), CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS (2006-HOLY MOUNTAIN), VARIATIONS OF A THEME
(2005-HOLY MOUNTAIN)
OTHER RELEASES: CONFERENCE LIVE (2009-IMPORTANT RECORDS), LIVE AT JERUSALEM (2008-SOUTHERN LORD), INERRANT RAYS OF A FALLIBLE SUN (2006-EP-SPLIT WITH SHRINE BUILDER-NEUROT RECORDINGS), OM/SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE-BEDOIUN'S VIGIL- (2006-SPLIT EP-HOLY MOUNTAIN)
BEST RELEASE(S): CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS (2006), PILGRIMAGE (2007)
TRACKLISTING : OM: GOD IS GOOD:
1) Thebes
2) Meditation is the Practice of Death
3) Cremation Ghat I
4) Cremation Ghat II

ITP RATING: *** 1/2

PRODUCTION: *** 1/2

SONGWRITING: *** 1/2

PERFORMANCE: *** 1/2

OM are a stoner/drone duo from the Bay area, California- USA (formed in 2003) invoking meditative drone, with psychedelic, shoe gazer/post rock textures. OM features (EX) SLEEP and SHRINEBUILDER member Al Cisneros (bass/vocals) and Emil Amos (drums).
OM, lost a member when (EX) SLEEP, SHRINEBUILDER member Chris Hakius (drums) left the project in 2008 to be replaced by Emil Amos (GRAILS). You may heard of the seminal stoner doom band SLEEP as the bands founder, MATT PIKE went on to form HIGH ON FIRE. OM is an organic extension of SLEEP, reuniting the bands rhythm section, invoking a stripped down meditative drone.
In the transition of OM's lineup changes, the band has returned to form to create yet another engaging sonic art of mystical, transcendent stoner/drone.
OM's "GOD IS GOOD" kicks off with the 19:08 opus "Thebes" crawling in with a tambura (sounds like a sitar) melody, and slow, menacing bass as with subtle variations, the bass and tambura meld together to form a middle eastern flavored, relaxing drone. At 3:25 into "Thebes", Al Cisneros vocals seep in emoting an Indian chanted mantra with subtle light percussion, and violin inspiring a psychedelic atmosphere. "Thebes" builds on it's psychedelic textures with drums and light keyboards. "Thebes" meditative trance takes a turn for the heavier (8:28) as distorted bass catches a groove with Cisneros's smooth vocals invoking psychedelic atmospheres. Mmmmm. "Thebes" enters other worldly territories as at 14:58 the opus slows down for a stoner doomer's wet dream of melancholy, psychedelic/groove bliss.
By now, you should NOT be sober, and in meditative trance. OM's "Meditation is the Practice of Death" seeps in with an ominous bass intro and Cisneros's
seductive vocals. At 5:23 into "Meditation is the Practice of Death", OM employ the use of a flute solo, beautiful indeed. . "Cremation Ghat I", enters in at a quicker pace, rim taping, fast bass groove, hand claps and pretentious, Tibetan chants as "Cremation Ghat I" segues into the next track "Cremation Ghat II". OM's "GOD IS GOD" closes with the instrumental "Cremation Ghat II", softly segueing with a droning, hypnotic tambura as Amos crawls in with rim tapping, keeping perfect time."Cremation Ghat II" invokes a rock groove (1:48) with lightly sprinkled mellotron and tablas jamming into a void, as this unstructured track feels incomplete.
OM's "GOD IS GOOD" trades Al Cisneros dominant, droning bass for a lighter, more hypnotic journey. However, this concept would be more effective if the songwriting and excursions were stronger and more meaningful.
Gone is Cisneros's distorted bass, for a cleaner, low in the mix, groove oriented feel as Amos brings a more jazzier flavor to OM's arsenal.
I do love the variation of instrumentation featured on OM's "GOD IS GOOD" as this band will try anything once, flutes, tambora, tablas, ect, all of which add to a wondrous journey into psychedelic, oblivion.
However, while OM's "GOD IS GOOD" isn't the classic "Pilgrimage" has grown into, OM are
certainly one of the most original stoner/drone bands out there today, invoking a psychedelic trance transcending over the gluttony of Black Sabbath clones littering the stoner/doom scene. . OM are indeed recommended for those looking for a meditative, spiritual journey and a hypnotic, cathartic ritual from the worlds baggage.

ITP RATING: *** 1/2

PRODUCTION: *** 1/2

SONGWRITING: *** 1/2

PERFORMANCE: *** 1/2

Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-

Subscribe Now to Individual Thought Patterns V.024 via FEEDBURNER, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM

ITP V.024 20th ANNIVERSARY
https://spak-individualthoughtpatterns.blogspot.com

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

Follow @ITPV020 Tweet to @ITPV020 ITP RATING SYSTEM FOR EXTREME METAL CD REVIEWS: A feature entitled ITP BLAST BACK REVIEWS: A RE RATE of reviews (that year) to see if I over or under rated certain releases. Just the rating, and there's no guarantee that all ratings will change. All ITP REVIEWS are on a BELL CURVE in comparison to previous (band/artist) releases and whatever else is released that year in said genre. ITP EXTREME METAL RELEASE REVIEW RATING SYSTEM: ***** (5 stars)=Awesome, a classic, timeless, unholy **** 1/2 (4 and half stars)=amazing, perhaps this bands best **** (4 stars)=very good, well worth the purchase *** 1/2 (3 1/2 stars)=Good, standard fare, for fans and not new converts *** (3 stars)=Good, but flawed, no progression here ** 1/2 (2 1/2 stars)=Bordering on mediocrity, band is overrated ** (two stars)=somewhere between mediocre and SUKETH * 1/2 (1 1/2 stars)= SUKETH (this release SUCKS) * (one star)=Awful, this CD can only be used as a beer coaster or a Frisbee. ? (No stars)=this band and release blow goats. ITP STATES (DISCLAIMER): PLEASE no rap fans or bands, no emo, punk, hardcore, metal core or nu metal retards, NO politicians. This journal is protected under first amendment rights, if you're offended, please leave, chances are, we are offended by YOU. This is NOT a personal diary, this is an extreme metal journal, about and for extreme metal heads whom are not ignorant to the reality of society. The opinions expressed on this journal do NOT reflect the scene, industry, genre, town, local and regional promoters, venues, clubs or government, landlords, management, housemates ect. No religious wingnuts...Don't blame us as we're straight edge. This journal is anti establishment, but please no national socialists or political propaganda. No, I'm NOT your booking agent, promoter, manager, public relations assistant. However, if you're a good extreme metal label or webzine, hire me as your PR assistant/writer. BTW, we're straight edge, and we don't like drug addicts. All sources are attributed, there are NO illegal downloads here. Please support music and not rumors. ITP recommends that readers are 18 and up, we are not responsible for raising your kids. I don't like people whom don't respect the metal genres, or ME following me on or offline, stalking or menacing me, any obsessions, or neighbors looking to fight, or make a delusional conspiracy theory out of nothing, so I will take legal action to define a boundary with posers and bullies. These bullies are NOT allowed at our or any metal shows. NEW POLICY REGARDING ITP V.018 VS. SYNDICATES: RSS FEED BY PERMISSION ONLY. FEEDS/syndicates are a pain to manage, and can be claimed and controlled by someone other than the blogs primary author. ITP V.015 new policy does NOT allow FEEDS without permission and consent from ITP's author.Consent means sign up for said syndicate, chances are, ITP V.013 was taken without CONSENT, and not without express written consent. ITP does NOT endorse sexism, fascism, racism homophobia nor porn NONE of that, and ITP is NOT responsible for any statements or actions via readers, artists or bands, separating the artists and musicians from ITP V.018's author. All videos and music featured on ITP come straight from the labels and bands official YOU TUBE, VIMEO, SOUNDCLOUD and BANDCAMP accounts (I hope they go viral), under fair use, all rights reserved to the artists and labels, courtesy of the bands and labels. ITP V.20/21's author writes alone, and always has. ITP V.020/21s TEXT is CREATIVE COMMONS (and copy written) as ITP V.020/21 is a media partner for the music/metal industry and under fair use promoting music. ITP REVIEWS are independent of record labels and others, record labels nor anyone can not censor ITP reviews, making a distinction between Public Relations, advertising as reviews are independent via ITP and have to be independent of record labels.. Censorship regarding issues of denial will NOT be tolerated from anyone nor individuals, sites, as they will be legally liable for slander and defamation of character in a lawsuit. ITP is NOT associated with DEATH (Although I'm a fan) ITP V.020 is NOT a DEATH fan site, as ITP V.021 is a extreme metal news portal/blog for and about extreme metal. ITP RESERVES SOME RIGHTS AS IN "FAIR USE" IN THE CONTEXT OF MUSIC, METAL and ENTERTAINMENT PROMOTION AND REVIEWS. SOME RIGHTS RESERVED WITHOUT PREJUDICE Protect Yourself BTW, ITP was EDITED in FULL (the entire journal in 2013 (Years ago-ITP looks and reads different huh?. BTW, ITP TEXT is CREATIVE COMMONS and you might look silly as I have bit of black list in the music industry and beyond. A couple of issues I would like to address: ITP DOES NOT like PSYCHOTIC people following ITP, you're under arrest, I will sue you. ITP does not promote local and regional artists/bands and music venues whom have screwed me over, don't reciprocate or bands, labels, venues I don't like. It is NOT ITP's responsibility for promoting your venue, club or crap band or show, DIY and promote your self, If I don't promote you or your band are awful, the music is awful. ITP only promotes what SHE likes, go play in your own sandbox. I don't promote local or regional bands or/and venues just because they are local, nor do I ignore bands and venues from out of state and out of the U.S. . ITP does not promote main stream music nor mall core..Only extreme metal.. There are a couple of labels that are blacklisted, one that is national socialist. A few bands are blacklisted from ITP, and one or two venues. Obviously is someone gets in fight over ITP there will be consequences, NOT YOURS, ITP owns her own copy right. ITP is not a request journal, it is an extreme metal source for extreme metal news, no hipsters, ITP is my journal. ITP, while a media partner for most labels,does not write for nor work for record labels and is independent of record labels. ITP is not owned by a record label. BTW, regarding monetize for adverts, ITP does not normally do adverts and has not committed to monetize, although I'll look into it, depending on timing and circumstances. Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal and welcome to ITP \m/ -l- ***To experience ITP at it's fullest capabilities you'll need a good browser (MOZILLA FIREFOX or SAFARI) and a fast MODEM/CONNECTION (CABLE or WI FI) to enjoy the videos and a good set of HEADPHONES or/and speakers to enjoy the SOUND and brutality. If you subscribe to ITP don't forget to come straight to this blog for updates, videos, REVIEWS, pics for ITP's multimedia extreme metal experience. To enjoy ITP, you MUST have a BANDCAMP, YOU TUBE or/and SPOTIFY account to headbang. BTW, I almost forgot to mention, ITP is visible via BLOGSPOT, target FACEBOOK. So add ITP is under said bloggers given name on FACEBOOK. Not all ITP V.018 posts show up on the main feed nor get passed my timeline (isn't that the truth on FB, only 15% of posts end up in the main feed passed your timeline). Just switch your setting to "SEE FIRST" under ITP editors given name, and you'll see ITP V..024 BLOGSPOT posts. ..Or/and join ITP syndicates. ITP EST and BRUTALIZING THE WORLD SINCE 2004 first on AOL (ya probably noticed ITP V.08, V.09, and V.010 ect. since 2008, ITP ON BLOGSPOT since 2008.): ITP V.024 REVIEWS: 2024-: 4 /21/2024-ITP V.024 REVIEW:-EXHORDER- "DEFECTUM OMNIUM" ITP EXTREME METAL NEWS FEATURES: NOTES FROM THE EXTREME METAL UNDERGROUND (DEATH,GRIND, THRASH METAL NEWS), HUMANITY IS DOOMED (FUNERAL DOOM, DEATH/DOOM, SLUDGE, BLACKENED DOOM, AVANT), BLACK METAL NEWS (DEPRESSIVE, WAR, BLACKENED THRASH, AMBIENT) SPRING 2024 (T.B.A.) Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-

Subscribe in a reader

cookieassistant.com

Individual thought patterns V.024

Monday, January 25, 2010

ITP REVEW: OM: GOD IS GOOD

Feedjit

Featured Post

TYR : STREAMING NEW RELEASE "BATTLE BALLADS" VIA BANDCAMP

Subscribe Now to Individual Thought Patterns V.024 via FEEDBURNER, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM