Omega Glory are back, and still not fucking around.
They recently released their second record and first proper LP, this time on Council Records, and it is brimming with intensity. The album, aptly titled Offerings, offers up 16 songs filled with Omega Glory’s trademark noisy hyper-fast metallic hardcore sound.
This new LP also stays true to the band’s trademark speediness with all but two songs clocking in at under two minutes in length. Short, fast, and loud indeed.
“Mating Ritual,” the record’s third song, is an absolute standout. Opening with pounding guitars that control the song’s pace by either crunching or ringing out, the song’s music is as confrontational as it gets. There is a fury to Sean McCann’s vocals here that somehow elevate the song’s confrontational tone. And suddenly all fades out, and the song is over.
There is something unsettling and engaging about the ending here that adds to Omega Glory’s sonic hostility. The lyrical content, while somewhat obtuse, is similarly unsettling. But this is what makes the song work so well. It isn’t meant to be heartwarming. It’s meant to confront the listener. And it sure does, making “Mating Ritual” one of the best songs on the record.
Of the two songs on the LP that somehow manages to get past the two-minute mark, “We to I” is the winner. The song opens with a midtempo base of more driving guitar and drum work, allowing Sean’s vocals to slow down their cadence and really showcase his power as a vocalist. I really like the sludginess in this song, made especially compelling by some of the weird guitar tracks layered into the second half of the song.
Admittedly, the strength of this song makes me want some more length out of other Omega Glory tracks because it’s clear they can sustain their abrasive sound for well over a minute per song. But perhaps that’s the whole trick anyway.
One of the LP’s more midtempo songs comes in later on the record. “You’re Trying to Take What I’ve Rightfully Stolen” opens with a powerful and thrashy grooving riff that Sean screams over. The middle parts, with the start/stop choppiness and harmonic tinges, continue the midtempo rhythm but with a brooding heaviness that is about as mosh-ready as it gets. And the song’s abrupt ending is super clever and very aggressive.
Offerings is a great first proper LP for Omega Glory. I’d expect nothing short of the musical acumen showcased here, given the band’s pedigree. Absolutely worth checking out as an interesting and heavy hardcore release.
So in the time between me starting this review and now, it’s come to light that Sean, Omega Glory’s vocalist, was diagnosed with ALS. I’m not so sure how to navigate that here, but it is worth noting that the band, Council Records, and a lot of other people and bands around the scene are raising money to help Sean get his medical bills paid and to provide him with all the support he deserves.
Frankly, Sean has been a contributing member of the hardcore underground for decades, Omega Glory being yet another chapter in his storied journey as a musician. He deserves our support because he’s given to us without ever asking for anything in return. That itself is more than most of us can say.
So please consider donating to his GoFundMe, entering into one of the many raffles being held in his name, or just reaching out to Omega Glory to let him know he’s not alone in this fight.
Get It
- Council Records (vinyl, digital)
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