In a year marked by notable efforts to push the progmetal genre forward from prog-favorites Haken or the more polarizing Avenged Sevenfold, an unexpected force may emerge from the depths of the small country of Belgium. The size of their country being no indication of their sound, quite the contrary. Omnerod has the potential to make a significant impact on the genre. Even when compared to impressive releases like The World is Quiet Here's enormous Zon, it becomes evident that The Amensal Rise is poised to be a standout album on many end-of-year lists.
Omnerod presents an album of staggering magnitude, clocking in at nearly 70 minutes. The pressing question remains: does it provide enough breathing space? The answer to this inquiry is subjective and reliant upon each listener's preferences. Personally, I love being engulfed in the chaotic abyss every now and then. Nevertheless, it took considerable effort on my part to fully comprehend and harness the immense power of this opus. Following each complete playthrough, I found myself compelled to pause and reflect on the mind-bending journey I had just undertaken. Think of it like an exhilarating carnival ride: surely it can be fun, but enduring it for an entire lifetime certainly is not.
Since the release of this album, I often thought I unlocked all of its secrets. Confident that I had navigated every claustrophobic hallway, discovered every hatch, and uncovered every shortcut within this haunted house, I often felt as though my exploration had come to an end, just for another layered detail to rear its head like a weird disfigured clown smirking right at me. "Time for another ride" it repeated time and time again, almost mockingly.
