One Lie Fits All

At first listen this would appear to be a very slow record, dark and lumbering. This first impression is somewhat correct, 'OMS' have really chilled right out with only the odd frenzied onslaught of guitar. Gone are those fast paced shotgun raps and bristling riffs. I read in an interview that; 'This record has been entirely written on weed' and it shows. 'Price Of The King's Ticket' & 'The Hill Is A Hole' are filled with swirling and alluring melodies that carry Brian's urgent, yet very relaxed messages until he briefly explodes forth, emphasizing a point before slipping back into tranquility.

'The Hill Is A Hole' takes the atmosphere of 'Holy Man' and creates a twinkling backdrop of guitar and bass to compliment some extremely impressive vocals, ones that will really get your head spinning with a corrupt series of emotions that you have no control over. Surely the standout track and one which despite its slightly dreary surroundings flies the flag of hope for this fine British artist.

You may well find yourself thinking it has reached half way, when in reality has only hit track 3, where there was variety before there is now a mundane sludge of guitars and broken melodies. This record would be far more satisfying if it were from a different band, a debut perhaps. But after hearing what this band has created before, the sheer brilliance and variety of their work, it makes it difficult to enjoy this album, even on repeat listens. My advice would be; get their far superior second album 'Buy Now...Saved Later' and begin from there.. If on the other hand, you would like a chilled out, moody, slightly repetitive record full of thoughtfully written lyrics and information then get your hands on this.

Standout Tracks: 'I Wear My Skin', 'We Bounce' & 'The Hill Is A Hole'.

I'm sure many of you are thinking 'why are you trashing this album so much when you gave it 4 stars?'. And its because it's still a fantastic album. Eddie, Glen, Yap and Massie still have the skill and energy I've grown to love and revere, even if Yap has taken a more lyrical approach to the songs instead of the hip-hop style he's had before. Many of the songs have branched out into different styles which is good and well done to OMS for it. It shows a broad perspective and a will to try something new. They did the same for Buy Now Saved Later. However, where BNSL turned OMS from brilliant to prefect, this album's pushed right back to where they started.

This is still a brilliant, must have album. New fans will love it and go out and buy the other albums and be amazed at how empty their lives were before they knew of OMS. Old fans will be too, as long as they only listen to tracks 1-5 and 8. Songs like Fistful of Nothing, Into our own and I wear my skin will have you air guitaring until you pass out. Other's like Price of the kings ticket and The hill is a hole will have you reaching frantically for the skip button before you pass out from boredom and despair.

On a final note BUY THIS ALBUM, but be prepared to not be as amazed as you hope you might be. And if One Minute Silence ever read this be warned you're in danger of going from god-like to just good.