Album Review: Omnium Gatherum - May The Bridges We Burn Light The Way (2025, Century Media)
- Stuart Ball
- 14 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Written: 3rd November 2025
Omnium Gatherum has been a steady presence in the melodic death metal scene for almost three decades, known for their ability to fuse heaviness with sweeping melodies and atmospheric depth. Hailing from Finland, the band has built a reputation for balancing technical precision with emotional weight, creating music that feels both intricate and accessible. Their upcoming release, May the Bridges We Burn Light the Way, arrives with the promise of refinement rather than reinvention - a record that seeks to strengthen their identity while exploring subtle new directions.
Markus Vanhala comments, “Let’s be honest - reaching ten albums is a serious milestone and most bands never make it this far. With this record, the idea was to tap into every era of this band - something old, something new and even a few wild cards. More than anything, we leaned fully into the essence of Omnium Gatherum and sharpened those trademarks to their fiercest form yet.”
The album’s title carries special weight, discovered by Vanhala on a stranger’s hoodie in a Chinese airport. “That long sentence instantly resonated! It felt poetic, symbolic and the perfect summary of Omnium Gatherum’s journey. I practically begged Jukka to let us use it!” The short instrumental title track opens proceedings. Beginning with shimmering synths, the piece quickly takes on a resplendent and uplifting tone. It feels like a cinematic curtain raiser before the drama begins. The melodic guitar and pulsating riffs create a sense of anticipation which, as with most Omnium Gatherum, signals that this journey will be as much about mood as it is about potency.
My Pain quickly follows and the step up in tension and immediacy is significant. Jukka Pelkonen’s growling vocals take hold and begin a narrative which explores the tension between vulnerability and resilience. Hey you, over there / Did you feel what I felt? / Hey you, everywhere / Did the pain stain go straight through? / I know I got shot / I know you did too / To be new. Pelkonen explains further, “My Pain is a story about the toughness one faces when adversary appears. It is about the rising emotions of anger, fear and apprehension, basically the time fight or flight mode shows its face. It is common among street gangs and soldiers but also between friends, lovers and amongst family ties. It is a story of conquering these feelings and becoming your own master.” A fast moving track that makes particularly effective use of the contrast between the dark vehemence of Pelkonen’s throaty delivery and the commanding clean vocals of Vanhala and bassist Mikko Kivistö, it feels like a declaration. Its dynamic contrasts – including some compelling solos - and lyrical depth ensuring the record begins not with hesitation but with engaging purpose.
The Last Hero shifts the mood towards something more valiant and defiant. It plays on Omnium Gatherum’s ability to combine straightforward melody, aggression and a memorable chorus. The track’s commanding presence holds attention throughout, with keyboards from Aapo Koivisto that twist and cascade rather than simply decorate the soundscape. They are a defining element of Omnium Gatherum’s identity, adding depth and tension. Guitar solos feel sculpted and purposeful, executed with precision and clarity. Every passage suggests careful curation, resulting in compositions that are lean yet vibrant. Vanhala comments, “The Last Hero is about an old-school street hero who never gives up and who keeps on fighting for the sake of fighting. This relentless attitude, while admirable, also means missing out on seeing and solving situations beyond the immediate fight. A theme that is easily reflected in our modern lives.”
Longest track on the album, the seven minute The Darkest City finds urban decay becoming a metaphor for moral ambiguity and survival. The lyrics explore identity in a corrupt environment, where every shadow hides a lesson and every choice blurs the line between right and wrong. More expansive, progressive and intricate than The Last Hero, it travels through various different sections to tell its tale. Beginning with steady, slow stomping riffs, the tempo quickly picks up as drummer Atte Pesonen shows just why he is so valued by the band. Pelkonen, Vanhala and Kivistö all make passionate vocal contributions to the track, with Pelkonen seemingly intent on giving everything he has. It leans into darker tones at times but also allows the song to breathe naturally with a quieter central section adding a relative calm to the track. Walking Ghost Phase, which explores addiction in its many forms, is - in Vanhala’s words - “a straight-forward banger.” It is easy to see why he would describe the track as such, its four minute rocketing past with fiery tempos and a foot-tapping rhythmic structure. Without doubt, there are hints of classic rock and decades gone past within its sonic template.
Omnium Gatherum have clearly put much thought into the track list as shown by the interweaving of the more progressive songs between shorter energetic anthems. Ignite The Flame is a meeting of both aspects. Some of the most abrasive vocals, rapid-fire guitar and powerful percussion are to be found here but this is balanced with the fact that the band maintain their commitment to melody throughout. The song’s conclusion embraces the cinematic and has an almost orchestral feel. Lyrically, it reflects resilience and unity, portraying freedom as a hard-won truth. It urges breaking illusions and igniting inner strength.
Opening instrumental aside, Streets of Rage – the shortest track on the album - is raw and confrontational. The relentless rhythm and hostile vocal delivery make it one of the most intense moments. Barricades hints at the “something old, something new” Vanhala promised. The track shifts through varied time signatures and dynamic contrasts, unleashing a torrent of adventurous guitar work. It feels liberated and exploratory, yet remains sharply focused, never sacrificing coherence for pure experimentation.
Closing and bookending the album, instrumental Road Closed Ahead offers a space for reflection, inviting listeners to consider how their own path will proceed. In its central section, the gradual rise of choral textures convey optimism and expectation, as if building toward resolution. Yet, when the music ends abruptly, it mirrors the uncertainty of choices still to come. Hopeful but unresolved, it is a fitting conclusion to a record defined by change and resilience.
Omnium Gatherum have proved once again why they have endured for so long. May the Bridges We Burn Light the Way feels more confident and inspired than Origin with tighter songwriting and a stronger sense of identity. It may not eclipse their very finest work but it stands as a cohesive and rewarding album. Often described as Adult-Oriented Death Metal, the label makes sense here because this is music crafted with maturity, precision and an ear for balance rather than sheer extremity. The band’s strength lies in their unity; there is no single star - only a collective chemistry that gives these songs depth and drive. Many tracks seem destined to thrive in a live setting where their energy and clarity will resonate even more powerfully. For long-time fans, this record reinforces everything that makes Omnium Gatherum compelling and for newcomers, it is proof that experience and evolution can still produce music that feels vital.
May the Bridges We Burn Light the Way is released on 7th November 2025
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