ONWARD WE MARCH - Nekromanteion (Track Premiere)

Written by: The Administrator

​Our council of shadowy and ink-splattered scribes have decreed the following: Wednesdays are for epic progressive opuses. Or at least...that's what this Wednesday is for. Next week may very well deliver something entirely different, but that's to be expected. We're a fickle crew, after all.

In any case, today is for epic progressive opuses. Thankfully, Dallas' own Onward We March was kind enough to approach us with a track for premiere, and what a track it is: a 17-minute-and-change odyssey through the necromantic gates of Hades. "Nekromanteion" is a track that bears the weight of its breadth quite well, delivering both in terms of narrative intrigue and gloriously engaging composition. Without further ado, check out "Nekromanteion" below! Sink into its expansive environs. As always, we'll meet ye on the other side.

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"Nekromanteion" in an exercise in gradual progression and growth. A significant portion of the track is fairly light fare, sitting more on the prog rock line than anything one would immediately describe as "metal." Of particular note are the vocals, which are crisp and clean with a wonderful sense of dynamic hookiness. A particularly quiet passage around the midpoint takes the gentleness to a new level, entering spoken word near-languidity for a few moments before building back. And then, as ye might expect, the end of the track charges into more conventionally overt aggression--the metal arriveth with might and fury. A shredding solo here, a burst of emotionally charged harsh vocals there. Drums roll and pound. Massively chuggy grooves pokes their meaty heads through the door as the track makes its grand exit. Much like the journey that the track dictates, the structure inherently offers a consistent change in scenery. There's never a dull moment. In a word: good stuff.  

I've definitely enjoyed Onward We March's prior work, with 2021's Identity receiving some notable airtime here at Ye Olde Sleeping Village. While a full writeup regrettably escaped me, I did review their single Come Hell Or Valhalla--also notably themed around a mythical afterlife--and was impressed with their ability to balance Gojira-esque deathy groove with a more flashy progressive bent. On  "Nekromanteion," however, Onward We March demonstrate some significant growth. Their earlier work is a lot more heavy in an overt sense, but more than that, this newfound evolution into long-form songwriting bodes well for a future of shattered expectations. I'm loving this clean and refined sound, and I'm very excited to see what they cook up next in the bowels of the underworld.

I highly recommend snagging that pre-order here for $1--which is, all things considered, a ridiculously fair price for nearly 18 minutes of killer music.

Onward We March - Nekromanteion will be released June 24th, 2022, and can be found here. 

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