Hailing from Lugano, Ometra are an alternative rock band fronted by former Parole Perse member Carlo Gervasini. Their new EP Choices comes out of a tough few years for him.
By Graeme Smith
In 2019, out of the blue, Carlo’s mother took her own life. Unsurprisingly, this took a big toll on Carlo yet it was his band that pulled him out of the darkness, as the project has done before. Following his lowest point, the band released We Used To Look At The Stars, and they haven’t looked back since.
The rest of Ometra are Russell on guitars, Elia on drums, Paride on bass, and Anastasia and Veronica on vocals. They’ve recently released a new EP, Choices and it’s a corker.
Opening with the slow-burning and operatic The Cloak Of Unmade Decisions, we instantly know we’re in for something special. Big riffs, call and response vocals, and powerful crescendos are the order of the day. It’s as much rock for headbangers as it is cerebral, and some sublime licks will have you reaching for your air guitar.
Lowest End strips things back with a vulnerable moment before settling into a dark groove. Title track Choices is a mid-EP highlight giving us some visceral lyrics and soulful vocals. When the rock hits, it hits hard and beautifully supports Carlo’s story of turning his life around.
Last Minute Call canters along with some passionate vocals and relentless riffs. Where Shadows Lead is a simmering number that combines tense guitar with airy vocals. The Trails of Unfinished Things then closes the album with some bubbling electronica and rumbling bass before exploding into life with chanting vocals and an arrangement that pushes boundaries.
For an EP, Choices feels epic. It leaves nothing unexplored emotionally, and the drama of the instrumental arrangements will have you thoroughly roused. If you’re a fan of hard rock then you should definitely get it in your rotation.
Choices was recorded and mixed by Stefano Scenini at Stairway Studios in Cimo and mastered by George Nerantzis. The album is out now, available now as a digital download via Ometra’s Bandcamp page. You can check it out below.
