Last Thursday, the legendary Colos-Saal in Aschaffenburg became the epicenter of modern Melodic Death Metal. For those familiar with Finland’s own Omnium Gatherum, it was clear from the start that this wouldn’t be a night of mindless noise, but rather a high-gloss emotional journey. Bringing along the technical wizards of Fallujah and the Swedish masters of melancholy In Mourning, the lineup felt like a masterclass in the genre’s diversity.
In Mourning: Melancholy Powered by Triple Guitars
The evening opened with Sweden’s In Mourning. Often hailed by connoisseurs as the spiritual successors to early Opeth, they lived up to that reputation instantly. Supporting their latest release, The Immortal, they delivered a massive sound wall fueled by their unique triple-guitar attack. Shifting between doomy heaviness and driving melodic parts, they created a thick, almost tangible atmosphere. The contrast between deep growls and clean vocal passages provided the perfect dynamic to pull the early crowd right into the mood.
Fallujah: Precision from Another Dimension
A complete stylistic shift followed with California’s Fallujah. For those unacquainted with the band and their virtuoso bassist Evan Brewer, the first few bars were a jaw-dropping revelation. Touring their technical milestone Xenotaph, they unleashed a firework display of precision that felt almost like science fiction. High-speed drumming and intricate riffs met ethereal, nearly jazzy clean sections. It’s fascinating how Fallujah manages to maintain a cohesive thread despite such extreme complexity—a truly intense ride through the cutting edge of Death Metal.
Omnium Gatherum: The Finnish Anthem Machine
When the headliners finally took the stage, the atmosphere shifted from technical coldness to genuine Finnish warmth. Frontman Jukka Pelkonen is a phenomenon; despite his harsh vocals, he radiates a joy that is instantly infectious.
The band celebrated their current album May The Bridges We Burn Light The Way. Guitar mastermind Markus Vanhala—who seems to play in every second Finnish band these days—proved once again why he is one of the scene’s premier melody writers. Their „Adult Oriented Death Metal“ (AOD) style sounded pristine thanks to the excellent acoustics of the Colos-Saal.
After the intro, they went straight into high gear with „Last Hero“ and the fan-favorite „Gods Go First.“
Tracks like „The Darkest City“ and the soaring „Frontiers“ showcased the band’s core strength—crushing riffs paired with 80s-stadium-style keyboards.
The energy reached a boiling point during the regular set’s finale, „Skyline.“
After a brief breather, the Finns returned for an encore. The instrumental „Luoto“ served as a beautiful ramp into the driving „New Dynamic.“
They reached an epic conclusion with the massive „New World Shadows“ before sending a sweaty but ecstatic crowd out into the Aschaffenburg night with the mandatory closer „Road Closed Ahead.“
The Evening’s Setlist Omnium Gatherum:
- Intro / Last Hero
- Gods Go First
- Slashers
- The Darkest City
- Frontiers
- Walking Ghost Phase
- Unknowing
- My Pain
- Reckoning
- Ignite The Flame
- Skyline
Encore:
12. Luoto (Instrumental)
13. New Dynamic
14. New World Shadows
15. Road Closed Ahead
Three bands, three entirely different approaches to Death Metal, but one consistent level of world-class quality. A mandatory event for any fan of the genre.
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All Photos by Martin Schmidt/ Picture-Rebels.Com