Friday, December 19, 2014

Broken Hope - Omen of Disease




I just picked a random spot: 9:16 mark

Kind of shocked to just now hear the following: one, original vocalist/belchist Joe Ptacek killed himself in 2010, and: two, Broken Hope reformed two years ago and made something after fourteen years of not. A frontrunner in image and back-burner in listenability, I was pleased with late 90’s outings Loathing and Grotesque Blessings, both of which highlighted by great rhythm and solo guitars and calculated, patient, smooth drumming, rising up from swamps of gore and finally baring a skeletal formation of a distinct sound. Omen of Disease has discipline but no personality, largely in part to a band fragmented by argument and tragedy, and the inclusion of several new members, guitarist Jeremy Wagner the only original shredder. Perhaps exciting on paper, more afterthought than reunion, death metal played well for death metal, but with interchangeable names and men, and distant memories of things that were coming together. At least it’s not the old-old stuff. So sue me.  

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