There is always an unrelenting stream of bands which either immediately stand out from the crowd or seed heavy suggestive thoughts that one should keep a keen close eye upon their evolution. One which certainly has a place in the latter of the two categories is US metal band Ominós. The quartet from San Francisco with their latest EP Here It Comes ignites more than passing intrigue and promise, and whilst not without flaws the release marks the band as ones to definitely watch with big open eyes.
Formed in 2010 the five piece of vocalist Justin Harris, guitarists Sultan Sawalha and Will Yoshii, bassist Kavon Kavouss, and Ryan Mason on the drums, bring a brawling blend of metal styles within their intense creative eruptions going under the name of songs. Each track ruptures the ears and senses with a blistering brew of classic and modern metal. It is hard and vicious the perfect concoction for metal and finely flavoured with an infusion of fine melodic invention and incisive grooves. The combination of all elements easily triggers a certain appetite for future releases as well as for this EP.
To be honest you have to treat Here It Comes as a demo because the production does the band no real favours though 
it cannot diminish their promise and creativity. The good thing about it though other than the songs is that you know when the band have the opportunity to use the best professional studios and producers, no disrespect to those involved here, there is going to be something very impressive immerging.
The release opens with Torment Me, a track which wastes no time in rearranging the synapses with thunderous rhythms and equally vindictive riffs. Rampaging through the ear with the energy of an express train and intensity of a tsunami the track scars the senses with a consistent battering and melodic play as sharp as cheese wire and as scorched as the walls of a furnace. As it progresses the track switches and shifts patterns and pace to great success whilst always leaving intrigue and melodic lures in place for a full focus its way.
Second song Inflictors lifts things higher immediately with its excellent opening. First a melodic guitar weaves in front of the ear whilst harmonic vocals swarm around it making the song instantly and irresistibly beckoning. The band can barely last a minute though before opening the cage to their power and muscular heart unleashing predatory riffs from the bass and a just as intimidating assault from the guitars. With an insistent groove the track is a leap up from its predecessor with everything impressively instinctive and focused on annihilation. As with the other tracks the song is not complicated but nor is it bland or without obvious thought and craft. A consistently shifting maelstrom of imaginative play and execution, the track works to its climax of destruction with flair and contagious ideas.
Best track on the EP which gets better as it goes along is Machine Gun Salute, again another song where the leading moments of the song ensure nothing but eager attention is given its way. Hypnotic riffs and catchy grooves provide the initial hook before as the title suggests, the track rages with an irritated energy and pace spattering the senses with angry vocals, intrusive stomping riffs and violent beats for the greatest effect and result. Snarling and as pissed off as a woken bear in winter the song has everything you want in a metal beast. It has muscles within its muscles and pure vengeance in its heart making it a mighty statement.
Completed by a couple of live tracks recorded at The Stork Club, the Here It Comes EP is a definite marker for a band with as much potential as they have intensity and invention in their music. It is a shame about the production but still the release is thoroughly enjoyable and only sparks strong anticipation for a planned full length release later this year. Ominós is a band on the up and with the right conditions inside and out of the studio will take some stopping.
RingMaster 13/06/2012
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