Gamma Sector are one viciously assertive and dominating force within the brutal death metal community that have quickly made it a point to try and set themselves apart from the rest of the genre's crop. Coming straight out of the Midwestern United States (presumably having its origins in Louisville, Kentucky), this modern five-piece extreme metal outfit, while only having been active for about two years now, are already well-versed in the underground scene and are gaining quite the cult following. The band released an EP not too long ago, and now their debut full-length is unveiled via their record label Vicious Instinct Recordings.
The latest effort from Gamma Sector is a death metal opus album that stretches a little over an hour in length. These thirteen tracks are all pretty fleshed out and brutally creative for the most part. Several of the songs contain a guest spot from another band in Gamma Sector's calibre, adding to the exposure. In addition, there is one bonus cover of I Declare War's hit song 'The Dot'. Finally, the act has seemingly taken on some sort of "aliencore"-esque theme this time around...along with a transition into brutal technical death metal. This is a somewhat mature shift from their more slamcore EP, which is a definite plus in my book.
First off, it's worth mentioning that the production quality is a huge step forward from their previous release. Everything sounds pristine and audible all around. All of the instruments make an impact in the overall music. The variety in the guitar riffage is another noticeable distinction from the EP, which was a more chuggy and deathcorish venture. The vocals, while being mostly the same gutturals and pig squeals that you'd hope to hear on this kind of album also sound better than usual. They ultimately fit in better with the instrumentals this time around, and the guest musicians are a treat to hear every once in a while.
Additionally, the atmospheric breaks and backdrops in certain sections of tracks such as 'Lucid' and 'Exterminate' add a nice touch to the melodic aspects, as well as a break away from the usual madness. 'The Last Moonrise' is a phenomenal composition to listen to for its technicality, shredding solos, and fluid progression from one instrumental section to the next. It's arguably the most well thought-out and innovative song on this album. The structure, while long as hell, is warranted for all of the eclectic sounds, brutality and heavy listening that is sure to keep audiences on edge. A later track titled 'Ephemeral' features guest vocals courtesy of Ben Duerr, Duncan Bentley & Matt Perrin. This lengthy late-game song includes a wonderfully dark presence that mixes the talents of these four unique vocalists. The overall feel and flow of this track makes it among the most memorable. Finally, the cover song at the very end is very brutal and, dare I say, potentially better than the original in some ways.
Only a few little things to mention here. While the length of this album is warranted, I still feel as though some of it could've been cut out or cut short. Additionally, I've noticed the slamming parts on Nex Omne are used a bit more sparingly than before and for added effect at times. There aren't as many chugging breakdowns either, which is a kind of "take it or leave it" sort of thing, but I just felt like something was missing once in a while. Aside from those elements, this is a nearly flawless brutal death metal offering.
It is truly worth mentioning that Gamma Sector's newest release Nex Omne is a brutal death opus in its own right due to many of the things that it does correctly. The album is a huge step forward, especially from the EP, and shows great maturity in the band's ambitions, innovations, musical creativity, sound and more. Disgustingly heavy, with some technicality and slight melody, in addition to a fast-paced and aggressive atmosphere, Nex Omne is a memorable release in an oversaturated subgenre.
Fave Tracks: 'Lucid', 'The Last Moonrise', 'Ephemeral'
For Fans Of: It is a recommended listen for all fanatics and enthusiasts of the brutal death genre alike.
**Nex Omne by Gamma Sector is available now both digitally on Bandcamp and physically over at Vicious Instinct!**
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Keep it brutal folks!
Review by: Dave Raffy
-Musician, reviewer, fan & promoter
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