ODIUM
“AS THE WORLD TURNS BLACK”
Album Review By Iron Mathew

8/10

Odium are a melodic thrash metal band from Germany formed in 1993. With a twenty five year recording career behind them, Odium celebrate this milestone by releasing their eighth studio album. The band combine the aggression of thrash metal with the catchiness of power metal to deliver a powerful and addictive listen.

Quickly into its stride, the album launches forth with the thunderous ‘The End Of Everything’, chugging relentlessly as it storms on. Germany has a great tradition for producing thrash metal bands of the brutal and aggressive nature, but with Odium, that trend is bucked a little…throw in a dash of the melodic and a hint of the traditional sound of heavy metal and you have the signature Odium sound that has kept the band moving for a quarter of a century. Guitar driven and hard hitting, ‘Point Of No Return’ is a muscular romp of riffs and rhythms. Vocals slant towards the throaty rasp, perfectly suited to the bands mildly abrasive style. Head bangingly addictive ‘Point Of No Return’ is infectious and memorable. Atmospheric and epic, ‘No Goodbye’ strolls in, all mellow and crescendo building, setting a haunting vibe as it sets off at a mid tempo pace, increasing the heaviness as it progresses. More a foot stomper than a head banger.

‘Blind’ is a cacophony of thunder as it thumps and thuds its way majestically on. A sing a long style chorus break makes ‘Blind’ an infectious listen and one that will be loved by the entire crowd in a live arena. With intensity and energy levels increased, ‘Revolution’ is a much quicker romp, a more aggressive and in your face style with violent head banging a must. ‘Revolution’ is a ferocious and very hard hitting romp of savagery and a definite favourite of mine off the album. The opening guitar riff to ‘Frozen World’ is an electrifying buzz style, most famously associated with the eighties NWOBHM evolution. ‘Frozen World’ is heavy, punchy and aggressive in equal measures and defines the signature sound of Odium. Even after twenty five years, the band have lost none of their desire and passion for delivering hard hitting and addictive mid tempo thrash metal.

Picking up the tempo and setting a blistering pace, ‘Time Is A Killer’ is a rampant rage, blending elements of the thrash, power and speed metal genres. Flying by in a ferocious flurry, ‘Time Is A Killer’ will have fans head banging hard and smiling from ear to ear. The title song ‘As The World Turns Black’, displays the bands melodic side once again. Mid tempo and heavy hitting with a catchy chorus, ‘As The World Turns Black’ strolls majestically on to its conclusion. Bringing the album to a close is the guitar buzzing ‘Inside The Incubus’. Atmospheric and energetic, ‘Inside The Incubus’ is a catchy and addictive end to an album celebrating the bands twenty fifth anniversary in the music business. Still a force in the thrash metal genre, Odium are a long way off retirement…let’s raise a glass in celebration and wish them well for another twenty five years.

Overall, hard hitting and melodic thrash metal delivered at a mid tempo pace with an abundance of heaviness.

TRACKLIST

The End Of Everything
Point Of No Return
No Goodbye
Blind
Revolution
Frozen World
Time Is A Killer
As The World Turns Black
Inside The Incubus

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