The Moor – Ombra
Release Date: 15th March 2024
Label: Inertial Music
Bandcamp
Genre: Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Death Metal.
FFO: Opeth, Wilderun, Dark Tranquility, Katatonia.
Review By: Carlos Tirado
The Moor epitomizes Prog in its classical essence. I must admit, when I first heard the single promoting Ombra, it evoked a sense of nostalgia for my metal roots, a realm I seldom revisit nowadays. It harkened back to a more dramatic and operatic style, truly capturing the epic dimension of metal. However, I couldn’t help but wonder, is Ombra merely a nostalgic journey, or does it introduce something fresh to the scene?
To begin with, this album has a clean production. While I may be inclined towards a patriotic bias, the Solar guitars deliver a dense and potent sound, maintaining an edge even in their cleanliness. Tracks like The Overlord Disease, Ombra, and Withered stand out with their distinct personality and commanding presence, guaranteed to become repeat listens. Furthermore, I appreciate how the tracks incorporate technical and intricate elements without veering into excessively long instrumental passages.
Although I’ve lauded the guitar work and sound, the same level of excellence isn’t consistently found in the drums or bass. However, my main reservation with Ombra lies in the vocals. While technically impressive, I find myself questioning their fit within the album, which feels slightly lengthy. The keyboards also raise similar doubts regarding their compatibility with the overall music. These concerns lead me to question some of the artistic choices made in Ombra.
There’s a recurring sense that the album doesn’t fully commit to a particular mood or intensity. While this isn’t inherently negative, it feels as though The Moor could unlock its full potential by embracing either a lighter or heavier direction (perhaps leaning towards more aggression!). Additionally, a more balanced ratio between clean and growled vocals would have been preferable, as the cleans lean more towards a Power Metal aesthetic rather than fitting seamlessly within a Prog Death Metal context.
The Moor presents an intriguing proposition, attempting to blend the best elements of Prog, Death, and even Symphonic metal. It’s a challenging endeavour! While some tracks are undeniably stellar, others miss the mark. Nevertheless, if you appreciate intricately crafted metal that leans towards complexity without overwhelming heaviness, Ombra might just resonate with you.
(3 / 5)
