Review: “Arise”by Omnivide

“Arise is a major evolution from our debut album “A Tale of Fire”. We took the elements we loved most from that first release and cranked them up another level. We really wanted to outdo ourselves on this one and we all felt ready to make something better in a shorter time frame. People can expect more techy riffs, bigger orchestral arrangements, more progressive song structures and more clean singing to complement the harsh vocals. The EP also has a lot of ups and downs in intensity, going from all-out brutal riffs to chilled-out, subdued clean sections throughout each song.” ~ Omnivide

Canadian Progressive Technical Death Metal outfit Omnivide originally started life in 2020, born from a desire to create original music as Opeth tribute act Sunbird burst into flames of self immolation. Uniting both current and former members of Dischord, Age of Tyranny and Sigil of Aeons, the group now consists of drummer Marc-André Richard, bassist Alex Cormier, keyboard player Samuel Lavoie, guitarist Nicolas Pierre Boudreau with Samuel Frenette on vocals and guitars. The five piece rose to prominence with their 2024 debut album “A Tale Of Fire” which was self produced and refined over years leading to critical acclaim, extensive touring across their homeland and nominations for Music NB Awards in both ‘Breakthrough Artist’ and ‘Song of the Year‘ categories. Influences have been cited in Between The Buried and Me, Opeth and TesseracT so with all that being said, the question is can the quintet raise the stakes after such a monumental start to their careers?

Bold and cinematic, “Prelude” uses orchestrations to create an ominous soundscape that sends a shiver down the spine. A grand entrance piece that forewarns of a dark new dawn approaching, it offers a glimpse into the future so fleeting it falls into the space between a blind and a tear. In truth does little to prepare you for the onslaught of Technical Death Metal riffs and bursts of gravity blasting that bring “Void” to life but then arguably nothing really could. Less than fifty five seconds in however the script is flipped on its head like a sand time with acoustic guitars and clean sung melodies offering a dark, folk like charm. As quickly as that appeared, it’s gone again with the violent screams of Frenette that are later inter-spliced with fleeting clean vocals and galloping drums. Capturing the power of nature with the rise and fall from electric to acoustic and back again while doing so in seamless fashion demonstrates not only impeccable musicianship but incredible song writing abilities. The five piece offer depth, texture and nuance in Symphonic Progressive Technical Death Metal while flirting with other sub-genres at the same time on this first track proper and its a minefield of complex patterns and dreamlike moments played at the tempo of the damned.

Death growled vocals give “Tyrannical Saviour” a brutal edge while the electrifying soundscape reminiscent of works by Obscura and Ne Obliviscaris intensifies, the bands ability to find balance within all the elements they pull together impressive. A spellbinding melodic break gives the track the air of classical music with the technicality in the guitar work, the rich choral patterns that rise up around it before a blistering solo nothing short of stunning. The piano solo adds an almost Gothic touch, the cleaner vocal passage that follows a sing-a-long moment before the final roars. “Omnipotent” floats magnificently downstream on a lily pad of playful classical acoustic guitars before bursting into flames with powerful percussion and throat splitting vocals. You can feel the fret-boards smoldering with the intense heat of the non stop technical riffs delivered by calloused hands, the jaw dropping rhythms as elegant as they are efficient as they fly in all directions. There is even time for a keyboard solo of space age qualities before the final note.

Fittingly title track “Arise” is the longest piece in this collection, approaching the nine minute mark with consummate ease in captivating and enthralling fashion. Created in soul stirring movements so as to paint the white to grey and blur the lines, its very much the classical music of the Metal world. Every element that was used on the earlier songs and poured into this one so you get the complete picture, a masterclass in musicianship from the very first note. How they’ve managed to achieve in a year what they previously did in four is the question you have to ask because this is so good it puts others to shame [9/10]

Track Listing

1. Prelude
2. Void
3. Tyrannical Saviour
4. Omnipotent
5. Arise

“Arise” by Omnivide is out 10th October 2025 via Seek & Strike Records