Tradition calls for albums to bring about change. New eras, new sounds, new vibes. For Orbit Culture though, tradition gets bucked, resulting in the massive EP Shaman. Morphing into a new “live focussed” version of themselves, the Swedes produce a five track EP which reads like a smack in the face.
“They gave us all that no one asked for” Niklas Karlsson bellows against ‘Mast Of The World’’s groove metal style riffs. A frantic chorus jerks to a stop, the keys which follow blow the dreary soundscape wide open. ‘Mast Of The World’ is pure dystopia, powering the reenergised Orbit Culture. It’s obvious time has been invested into these tracks as the peaks and troughs provided by piano sections and string interludes are nothing short of sublime. Guitars saunter through a particularly charged instrumental for an outro which declares Orbit Culture aren’t messing around.
Following a success such as Nija would cast a shadow over any band. Orbit Culture not only stride out from the shadows but obliterate any trace of darkness. Shaman is clean and sharp in its execution. The laser focus of moving into the live arena means there are few frills but Shaman is not devoid of thrills. ‘Flight Of The Fireflies’’ guitars buzz like the wings of its namesake. Ritualistic growls nestle themselves in hummingbird drums and a metallic chug deemed to prick the ears of any Trivium fan. This ritual continues well into ‘Carvings’. “The totem figure speaks the truth” come the fanatic growls of Karlsson from the corner of the cave. Guitars grind against cultist drums. A subtle choral section seeks to indoctrinate us. By the time Karlsson and Richard Hansson blast into the breakdown, the recruitment process is complete; Shaman carved into our minds.
Moving toward a streamlined sound may put off listeners looking for the elaborate Orbit Culture fantasy. While ‘Strangler’ sounds mainstream in its anthemic architecture and prevalence of cleans throughout, this is not an exercise in selling out. Karlsson’s low pitched gargle into a spine chilling breakdown maintains the edge of Orbit Culture. The ending solo, fast and technical yet melodic, takes us to another level as we set sail with ‘A Sailor’s Tale’.
A sea shanty reigns supreme as strings billow like the sea breeze. Ringing guitars and pounding drums marry metal to the nautical, becoming chaotic and stormy. “You brought this on yourself” sees Karlsson leading the charge of a mutinying crew. The epic chorus calls us to arms, readying battle cries fit to fill any sized venue. Waves of guitar solos propel us into a calm before the storm. Sweeping strings allow us to breathe for a moment. A reverberating growl darkens the sky as the Kraken emerges to finally take us down to Davey Jones’ locker.
It’s fair to say there were some mixed feelings surrounding the premise of Shaman. Would pulling the sound back hinder rather than help? This five track journey to the farthest corners of the mind tells us Orbit Culture are on the up and up. Shaman is the dawning of a new age for this Swedish metal band. An age Orbit Culture should rightly dominate.