“Wolf Love” by Omnia
Omnia’s newest release, Wolf love, is an incredible offering to the pagan community, as usual. Each song is a complete piece of music in and of itself, and yet when taken with as a whole, Wolf Love is an extremely thought provoking, well made album. Also, while Omnia describes their style as Neo-Celtic Pagan Folk, this latest album can hardly be considered Folk music, regardless of what type of instruments the band may play. With offers of straight instrumentals to chants and even rap to titillate our senses, the folk title in only vaguely present in a few of the songs here. Certainly this is not the folk that your father grew up with, to use an old expression.
From their first song, Wake Up, a soft song that gives no hint of what comes after it to Dance Until We Die, a song that could best be described as a mix of rock, rap and folk among others, Omnia proves their skill in crafting music that will grab you and have you singing along with them. From Dance until we die, the album moves to a very edgy piece named after the beast in Lewis’ “In the Looking Glass”, the Jabberwocky. Much like Omnia’s last poetic offering, The Raven, this song will delight fans of Lewis Carol’s poem usually called the “Greatest Nonsense Poem Written in the English Language”.
Following this is Saltatio Vita, a gorgeous pure instrumental that will have you wanting to get up and dance. Next is Teachers, a somber song about learning from teachers of the heart, and as suits such a serious subject, the song is a bit solemn, even as they sing passionately, begging “Are my lessons done/I cannot do another one/they laughed and said/well child, are your lessons done”. This song and in particular these lines follow in that great pagan tradition of teaching through experience, reminding the listener that our lessons are never done until we stop learning.
Love in the Forest has sounds of the rainforest playing on the background, almost seeming to take you to the place in your mind. It’s a fun song, with a sound that I can only describe as “hippy”. Coming as it does, directly after Teachers, it makes you smile and shake off the somber mood for a more relaxed energetic one. In comparison, Toys in the Attic comes in like a shiver of the Otherworld. If Love in the Forest is a dance Toys in the Attic is a sudden trip into a cold stream. Strangely compelling, yet creepy at the same time, this song is perfectly described as a view into “wealthy European insanity” with visions of insane children locking themselves in an attic hearing their toys talk to them. This atmosphere becomes more and more compelling as the song continues ending in the scene becoming strangely clear as we listen.
Shamaniac is a chant/instrumental, putting one in mind of a late night impromptu dance in front of a roaring fire pit. Solfeggio is the second instrumental and has such a classical and yet healing sound to it that you will find yourself drawn into it, unable to turn away. Wheel of Time is a chance to reflect, on both what the album has been saying up to this point and your own life. Omnia is particularly adept at providing songs that are not only incredible musically, but that work on multiple levels, including energetically and mentally all at once.
Sister Sunlight, a second chance to reflect and remind yourself that not all reflection may be somber. This song reminds me of all of the “perfect days” in my life, sitting in the sun, feeling it caress my skin like a lover. With two such reflective songs, one can be easily surprised out of the happy reverie by the sudden power of Taranis Jupiter. Starting off with chanting and thunder, this song is more of an invocation of ancient Gods than it is a simple melody. This one will have you tapping your head in tune to the music and feeling the potent energy flowing through you.
Moon, on the other hand, is closer to a quietly swaying dancer communing with the Mother on a clear evening. Wolf Song is a chill offering, reminding us that not all in nature is soft or gentle. It speaks to the fear within us and draws it out; playing with us like a tiger would with its prey. The imagery in this song is darkly compelling and will have you breathing just a little faster during it. Cornwall is a homesend, speaking of finding your souls home in the world, only too late to return there. Though it sounds like a dour subject, this song instead will set you in a traveling mood, reflective and hopeful, lost in pleasant memories. There is just a touch of sadness contained knowing that you can never go back even if you were to return to a memories physical location. Ending this magnificent album is Sing for Love, a soothing song that brings you full circle in this gorgeous gift.
Omnia’s latest CD has quickly become indispensible and one of my favourite albums, easily of all time. I can guarantee that even those who may find themselves hesitant on this album will find something that will call to them. This album was definitely worth the wait and reminds us why Omnia is one of the best pagan bands out there today. 5 out of 5 pentacles.
As always, here is a link to their incredible song (and my favourite off the album), Dance until we Die.
If you want to go and buy one of their albums as a Yule treat follow this link to Omnia’s Website.
To leave comments about this, please follow this link to Musings About the Words.