Omega Lithium

來自克羅地亞的女聲歌特樂團.
If Lithium comes into contact with the skin, it can cause severe chemical burns. Lithium salts, on the other hand, are used to treat bipolar disorders, mania and depression. But these are by no means all of the applications of that chemical element with the atomic number 3, because in combination with Omega, the last letter of the Greek alphabet, Lithium forms an acoustic drug with a highly addictive quality:
Omega Lithium!
This potion was concocted in 2007 by four talented alchemists in the small Croatian town of Umag – a musical no man's land where bands are rarely noticed by the outside world. Consequently, it was like a lottery win for Omega Lithium when the label, Drakkar Entertainment (Nightwish, Lordi, Letzte Instanz, among others) from Witten in Germany, listened up and offered to support the quartet in the international distribution of their aphrodisiac, which is even legal. Their penchant for chemical substances is also reflected by the title of their debut album, "Dreams In Formaline". Formalin is an aqueous solution, a mix of formaldehyde and methanol which is used to preserve bodies and anatomical and biological preparations.
Proceeding from this concept, the musicians from Croatia asked themselves what a person who has been preserved in formalin dreams: is there anything to conserve our thoughts and stop us from looking for more – to protect us and at the same time stop us from perceiving the real world? Is our reality only a formalin dream, after all? Eleven profound tracks see Omega Lithium get to the bottom of these and other questions relating to social conflict, conspiracies and the dark side of humanity. At the same time, this new sonic drug is intended to combat the rampant consumerism of western civilisation. "By definition, consumerism is the equalisation of personal happiness with consumption and the acquisition of possessions", guitarist Malice Rime explains. "It makes people lazy and indifferent, in addition to becoming stupid and easy to manipulate." Omega Lithium rebel against this condition with philosophical depth, enthralling harshness and great passion, because these four musicians want to shake up and move their listeners. And their rousing creations are definitely not suitable for lazing around, but encourage the urge to move and inspire the cinema in their listeners' heads.
The band's figurehead is 19-year-old vocalist Mya Mortenssen, whose looks are on a par with her powerful and surprisingly deep voice and is definitely a force to be reckoned with by the international competition. Along with Mya, guitarist/main songwriter Malice Rime, bassist/lyricist Zoltan Harpax and drummer Torsten Nihill have created a powerfully sinister sound which occasionally brings to mind the atmospheric goth metal of acts such as Lacuna Coil and Evanescence, yet is always independent and marked by a variety of influences. Omega Lithium combine cutting metal riffs, rock elements, electro beats, machine-like coolness and haunting atmospheres at the interface of industrial, goth and metal. Music fans will be hooked on "Stigmata", which has true hit potential and is supported by a darkly morbid video clip with Tim Burton references; "My Haunted Self" with its male-female antiphon and an extremely creepy aura; the title track, "Dreams In Formaline" with strong industrial influences; and the bombastic "Snow Red".
Producer Victor Love (Dope Stars Inc., Epochate), who cooked up the toxic mix together with the band over two months at the Subsound studios in Rome, played an important part in the album's successful recording. Subsequently, the wonder drug was expertly polished by Vincent Sorg (Schandmaul, In Extremo, Die Toten Hosen, among others) at the Principal Studios in Münster as part of the mastering process. The result is a contemporary, powerful pick-me-up which has us discover lots of interesting details during this musical trip. This thoroughly addictive drug was perfected by graphic artist, Seth Siro Anton (Paradise Lost, Soilwork, Moonspell, among others), who created the atmospheric, tailor-made artwork for "Dreams In Formaline".
Having said all that, the formidable self-confidence of the four musicians from Croatia is certainly justified, after all Omega Lithium see themselves as the heralds of a new era. "Music has a strong presence and has changed whole generations", Malice Rime reflects, hoping that his band's tracks will cause a new way of thinking and animate listeners to question things and take over responsibility for this ruined world we live in. Whichever way you look at it: Omega Lithium must be the first drug which can be recommended without reservations – with no known risks or side-effects!