Released in 2012, Advaitic Songs marks a mature and expansive statement from OM, the duo of bassist/vocalist Al Cisneros and drummer Emil Amos. Known for their meditative, drone-laden approach to doom and stoner metal, OM push their sound into ritualistic, spiritual, and orchestral territory on this album, blending heavy grooves with cinematic instrumentation and hypnotic textures.
The album opens with Addis a slow, meditative piece featuring female vocals, piano, and strings that immediately establishes the ritualistic, transcendent tone. From there, tracks like State of Non-Return and Gethsemane balance OM’s signature bass-heavy, hypnotic grooves with additional instrumentation cello, flute, viola, and tabla expanding their sound without losing its meditative core. The closing track, Haqq al-Yaqin, serves as a culmination of the album’s themes: slow, layered, and hypnotic, it exemplifies OM’s ability to build emotional resonance through minimalism and repetition.
Al Cisneros’ vocals float over the compositions like a mantra, while Emil Amos’ drumming maintains a slow, deliberate pulse that anchors the album’s ritualistic energy. The production is clean and spacious, giving each instrument room to breathe and emphasizing the ceremonial atmosphere. The careful layering of instruments creates a cinematic feel, while retaining the hypnotic qualities of OM’s earlier, sparser recordings.
Advaitic Songs is not designed for immediate gratification or headbanging; instead, it rewards patient listening. The album’s slow pace, layered instrumentation, and contemplative mood require immersion, but this patience is repaid with a profound, almost meditative experience. For longtime fans, it represents a natural evolution, expanding the band’s sonic palette without sacrificing the spiritual core of their music. For newcomers, it offers a doorway into OM’s unique fusion of doom, drone, and ritualistic soundscapes.
