Westchester County’s finest crossover artists, Omnism, have officially broken their five-year silence with their crushing sophomore record, ‘A Sleeper Awake’. Following up on 2021’s ‘Forced Perspective’, this ten-track collection expertly bridges the gap between old-school New York hardcore grit and the technical precision of death metal, all wrapped up in a traditional thrash metal package. It is an ambitious, high-energy effort that showcases a band deeply in tune with their decades-long shared musical history.
From the opening moments of ‘Deceptive Enchanter’, the band sets a formidable tone. A thick, chugging bassline anchors the track, allowing the guitars to execute razor-sharp patterns that immediately command attention. This momentum carries straight into ‘Zuul’, which cleverly disguised itself as a slower, more melodic piece before erupting into a barrage of pulsing riffs. The interplay between the rhythmic section and the lead guitar during the song’s final moments is genuinely brilliant, proving that the band values dynamic flow over predictable structures.
Elsewhere, the brief blast of ‘Diagnull’ acts as a perfect setup for ‘Bearing the Burden’, where drummer Jon Kucera is completely unleashed, driving the track forward with ferocious speed and impeccable timing. The album hits its stride at the midway point with ‘Dragon Reborn’. Benefiting from noticeably sharper production, the track leans heavily into intense, classic-sounding thrash rhythms that evoke the golden era of early Metallica.
Omnism isn't afraid to experiment with atmosphere either; after the relentless weight of ‘Gangrenous’, the band shifts gears with ‘They All Drank the Water’. This largely instrumental, industrially-tinged number serves as an eerie prelude to the bombastic chaos of ‘Abandon All Hope’. By the time the self-titled track arrives, the band fires on all cylinders, blending fierce vocal deliveries with relentless percussion.
While a few mid-album tracks follow a somewhat familiar sonic blueprint, the sheer enthusiasm of the performances prevents the momentum from stalling. Ending on a high note, a spirited cover of ‘Trapped’ injects one final burst of adrenaline into the record.
Sharp and unrelenting, ‘A Sleeper Awake’ is a triumph of passionate collaboration, balancing crushing weight with subtle nuance. To keep up with their latest tour dates and studio updates, make sure to track Omnism down on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
