Subtitled Zozobra, this is the band Old Man Gloom's third album, and while it is theoretically the successor to previous album Seminar II in EP form, it is in truth both a sequel, a continuance, and a summary of its predecessor. Let me explain. First, it is obviously a separate release to Seminar II, and it was released slightly after that album. Second, it is meant to be listened to back-to-back with its predecessor, as the themes on this EP continue on from those of the first album. Finally (did I forget to mention?) the EP is one single track, 27 minutes long, which encapsulates all of the many turnings of style and concept in the previous album's 17.
The key with this album is to not allow the one song's length to daunt you. It just means this isn't an album you can pop in and skip around the tracks on, changing what you're listening to every couple of minutes. If you want to properly appreciate it you have to sit down for the haul, as the song's payoffs only really have the intended effect if what comes before is heard as well.
Stylistically the band aren't all that far removed from sister-project Isis, as one of the core members of OMG is Isis vocalist/guitarist/artist/label owner Aaron Turner. OMG explore many of the same ambient passages alternated with crushing guitar and, but on their other albums these excursions are always short, compared to Isis (usually clocking in at about 4 minutes at most) and never really exploring their sonic art to its full extent. This is why Seminar III is such a refreshing listen, coming from other Old Man Gloom albums; it's wonderful to hear them really stretch their muscles. Now, don't get the impression that OMG are Isis clones, while they do bear some general similarities, and whatever genre you want to stick Isis in these guys definitely also fall into it, but they don't have the repetitive, droning ambience of Isis, and as I say the songs tend to short and often abrasive. Of course, now I do need to come to the reason why I say this album is sort of like a shorter summary of its predecessor, you see despite being one song, and despite feeling very natural in its sound, it is in many ways a series of tracks stitched together. Of course, Seminar II is in many ways one long song cut into many individual tracks, so this doesn't pose any real problems.
The musicianship itself is very good, although there isn't much in the way of the band showing off their prowess. It's more in the way that all contributors come together to create this whole; as the song moves through its various phases it feels like the badn are building to a natural conclusion, which is hit in some ways at the 21 minute mark. I should point out that the band's lyrics usually revolve around our simian brothers (the band's full name is the Old Man Gloom Alien Simian Defence League) and space, as the ambient passage prior to this climax contains samples of what I assume to be scientists discussing monkeys, which fades slightly into a truly awesome guitar riff, which curls and explores its way for about 4 minutes before fading into a quiet denouement.
The album is not an easy listen, like most of the bands stylistically related to it, OMG requires a little getting used to, and does require some attention. But once you get past the length of the song and the oddities and start to really appreciate the music, the album will greatly reward. And, of course, it is highly recommended to fans of post metal, just make sure to listen to it back-to-back with Seminar II.
[as a side note, the band was founded in Santa Fe, where there has been a yearly festival since the early 1700s in which a figure known as Zozobra, or Old Man Gloom, is burned in effigy to represent the release of the cares and worries of the past year.]
8/10
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