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Band: Kave
Album title: Ominousium
Release date: 1 August 2015
Label: Cyclic Law
Tracklist:
01. A House Amongst The Weeds
02. The Tribes Of Nyx
03. Stuporous
04. Wind Apathia
05. Alter Terra
06. Ominousium
Kave is the solo work of Netherland's Bram Gollin. Kave's Ominousium is released on Cyclic Law, in an edition of 500 copies in a 6 panel Digipack. Kave has been around for several years and is known for dark and sometimes harsh soundscapes, full of emotion and a thick atmosphere. This latest release, Ominousium, gives us more of this style sound, in a bit more of a refined fashion than previous releases like The Language Of Stones and Dismal Radiance. Cyclic Law describes the release as "reflecting on a mental and physical hardship...aims to induce a meditative experience...".
Ominousium starts with the very medidative "A House Amongst The Weeds". It has a very atmospheric feel as though you are in a thick fog hunkered down for shelter in a very unsettling, maybe even apocalyptic, terrain. "The Tribes Of Nyx" has the most substance as it brings a more human feeling to the previously desolate decaying atmospheres. Yet I find it to bring out more of an industrial complex feeling than the ancient or remote tribes that I imagine from the title. "Stuporous" continues with this industrial atmophere, I imagine great screeching and rumbling machines, however they are faint and not quite discernable, as if they are only a thought not a reality. These machines seem to come closer to me throughout "Stuporous" becoming more harsh and roaring as I approach. On "Wind Apathia", (apathia's meaning: suppression of passion/excitement, by the way) there is a lighter atmosphere, with distant synth lines fading in and out, which slowly build into what feels like a full on storm or walking into the engine room of a large industrial complex. The synths continue to build suspense as a high pitch drone become prevalent. "Alter Terra" would be the most meditative track on the album with light atmospheric drones and indiscernable synths. It gives you time to delve into your own mind and reflect upon what you have experienced. "Ominousium" begins in quite the same fashion as the previous track but slowly builds over the 12:27 minute track into a very harsh and persistent drone.
I will have to say that some tracks here were very reflective and meditative, like "A House Amongst The Weeds" and "Altera Terra". But as a whole I found the experience to be a bit too much harsh and industrial than I would like to experience during a meditation session, but that may be part of the goal. The craftmanship is surely here, and fans of this artist will not be disappointed, but I fear there is little new or innovative here to entice the fresh ears of a newcomer to the genre. A solid release from Kave, with a few stand out moments.
Review written by: Michael
Rating: 7/10
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