Orpheus Omega
Orpheus Omega | |
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Origin | Melbourne, Australia |
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Years active | 2008–present |
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Website |
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Orpheus Omega are a melodic death metal band from Melbourne, Australia. Originally called Orpheus, the band changed their name to Orpheus Omega on April 26, 2013,[1] prior to the release of their second studio album Resillusion. The current line up consists of Chris Themelco (guitar and vocals), Joao Goncalves (guitar), Nathan Mesiti (bass), Keswick Gallagher (keyboards) and Matt Themelco (drums). The most recent album, Partum Vita Mortem was released in 2015. To date, the band has released three studio albums, one EP and two live DVDs.
History
Formation and early history
Founded in Melbourne in 2008 as Orpheus, the band released a six track EP, So it Begins in 2009. Citing Scandinavian bands such as Dark Tranquillity, Children of Bodom and Arch Enemy as influences,[2] So it Begins received favourable reviews[3][4] and the band opened for Amon Amarth on the Melbourne date of their Australian tour on 27 November 2009.
Bleed the Way (2010 - 2013)
Recorded during 2010, Orpheus released their debut full-length album Bleed the Way on 18 February 2011 through Rock Star Records.[5] The album featured guest vocals by Ville Viljanen of Mors Principium Est on the track Winds of Change. Bleed the Way received positive reviews ,[6] with Metal Obsession citing the album as a contender for best Australian album of 2011.[7]
Resillusion (2013 - 2015)
Orpheus announced on 26 April 2013 that they would be changing their name to Orpheus Omega in order to prevent potential copyright issues overseas.[8]
On 3 May 2013, Orpheus Omega announced the sudden death of bassist Adam ‘Milky’ Adams,[9] just one day before the release of their second full-length album, Resillusion. Deciding to continue as a band,[10] Daniel Ralph took over bass duties for the upcoming tour in support of the new album. He was unveiled as the permanent bassist later the same year in November 2013.
Building upon the success of Bleed the Way, Resillusion received positive reviews [11] [12] featuring in Metal Obsession Albums of the Year [13] .[14]
The tour in support of the album began with a national tour from July 2013 onwards, playing with fellow Australians Ne Obliviscaris and Psycroptic as well as international acts Eluveitie, Korpiklaani and Sirenia.
2014 saw Orpheus Omega support Dark Tranquillity nationally and Children of Bodom in Melbourne and also embarking on their first international tour. Playing in Singapore, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Korea, the performances were recorded and released as part of a live DVD Archways Across Asia on 3 November 2014. Production of the DVD itself having been funded by a successful crowdfunding campaign.
Orpheus Omega parted ways with bassist Daniel Ralph on 24 October, his replacement, Nathan Mesiti, being unveiled two days later on 26 October 2014.
Partum Vita Mortem (2015 - Present)
February 2015 saw the band enter the studio to begin recording their third album. In April, Orpheus Omega signed to Kolony Records [15] and announced that the new album would be released in July. A lead single, Beacons was released on 26 May 2015 and the album Partum Vita Mortem was released on 24 July 2015.
A concept album, Partum Vita Mortum consists of three sections each with four songs discussing birth, life and death.[16] The album received positive reviews, [17] [18] [19] with Dead Rhetoric commenting that "Partum Vita Morta [sic] offers up everything that is right and true about melodic death metal" [20]
Orpheus Omega embarked on a national tour of Australia in support of the new album between July and November 2015, which also included opening for At the Gates in October 2015. The band also supported Soilwork in February 2016 and Trivium throughout Australia in April 2016 and Eluveitie in Adelaide in May 2016.
The band have also released videos for the tracks Karma Favours the Weak and Tomorrow's Fiends and Yesterday's Ghosts which are respectively part one and two of a trilogy of videos from Partum Vita Mortem.
Members
Current members
- Chris Themelco (Lead Guitar & Vocals )
- Joao Goncalves (Guitar)
- Nathan Mesiti (Bass)
- Keswick Gallagher (Keyboards)
- Matt Themelco (Drums)
Past members
Sasha Braganca (Keyboards 2008-2011)
Adam ‘Milky’ Adams (Bass, Backing Vocals 2008-2013)
Daniel Ralph (Bass 2013-2014)
Timeline
Discography
Extended Plays and Studio Albums
Year | Album details | Notes |
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2009 | So it Begins...
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2011 | Bleed The Way
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2013 | Resillusion
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2015 | Partum Vita Mortem
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Live Videos
Year | Video details | Notes |
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2013 | Live
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2014 | Archways Across Asia
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References
- ↑ http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Orpheus_Omega/3540285330
- ↑ http://www.metalobsession.net/2009/12/22/orpheus-chris-themelco-22122009/
- ↑ http://www.metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=7160
- ↑ http://www.metalobsession.net/2009/12/07/orpheus-so-it-begins/
- ↑ http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Orpheus_Omega/Bleed_the_Way/295889
- ↑ http://www.metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=8974
- ↑ http://www.metalobsession.net/2011/03/28/orpheus-bleed-the-way/
- ↑ http://www.orpheusofficial.com/2013/04/26/orpheus-omega-new-video-clip-official-name-change/
- ↑ http://www.orpheusofficial.com/2013/05/03/the-low-point/
- ↑ http://www.orpheusofficial.com/2013/05/07/the-show-must-go-on/
- ↑ http://www.metalobsession.net/2013/05/02/orpheus-omega-resillusion/
- ↑ http://www.nocturnalhall.com/reviews/O/orpheusomega_reillusion_e.htm
- ↑ http://www.metalobsession.net/2013/12/23/anwar-rizks-best-albums-of-2013/
- ↑ http://www.metalobsession.net/2013/12/21/jonathon-besankos-best-albums-of-2013/
- ↑ http://www.kolonyrecords.com/orpheus-omega-signs-to-kolony-records/
- ↑ http://www.therockpit.net/2015/Chris-Themelco-Orpheus-Omega-Interview-2015.php
- ↑ http://www.killyourstereo.com/reviews/1065836/orpheus-omega-partum-vita-mortem
- ↑ http://www.metalinjection.net/lists/6-albums-you-might-have-missed-so-far-in-2015-july-edition
- ↑ http://www.nocleansinging.com/2015/07/20/an-ncs-album-premiere-and-a-review-orpheus-omega-partum-vita-mortem/
- ↑ "Interview with Chris Thelmeco". deadrhetoric.com. Retrieved 2016-03-23.