Although O.G. have been making waves in the Metal scene for quite a while, this was my first opportunity for some intimacy with the band’s music. Immediately obvious are parallels to bands such as In Flames and Dark Tranquillity, primarily regarding their highly melodic strain of Death Metal. That O.G. are from Finland might also account for a genetic penchant for crafting groovy and catchy melodies.

This album should appeal to a wide variety of listeners including anyone bearing preconceptions against, say, growling vocals or even keyboard-enhanced melodies. The level of musicianship, the songwriting quality and a clearly focused energy clearly suggest that O.G. was never an average run-of-the-mill band. The limiting factor with “The Redshift” is that there are no standout songs and it’s in fact hard to distinguish between them. Maybe this feeling has something to do with an overpolished production – not that the album represents a blemish in the omnipresent Dan Swanö’s laudable credentials.

The band bio on O.G.’s official website presciently observes: “It is always darkest right before the morning.” This neatly sums up the emotional focus of “The Redshift” – a dark melancholy that’s filled with burgeoning hope. Myself I’m hoping for more and better.