NYIÞ
᛬ᚢᛁᛋᚿᛁ•ᚼᛆᛏᛁ•ᚼᚱᛅ᛬
Cyclic Law (2022)
In recent years the Icelandic black metal scene has produced a stunning array of artists. From the dissonant majesty of Svartidauði, to the immediacy of Misþyrming and the psychedelic edge of Wormlust, the scene has truly blossomed. As it is usually the case, this tendency towards the extreme and experimental has not been isolated to the black metal form. Other … Read more
O Pioneers!!!
Neon Creeps
Asian Man (2009)
With their Asian Man debut, Neon Creeps, O Pioneers!!! is trying to make a name for themselves while upping the ante on stupid punctuation in band names. What I hear is a sloppy three-piece punk band with hints at a more minimal and sometimes folk-punk style. I call them a three-piece, but the band is clearly Eric Solomon's baby, as … Read more
Oakeater
Aquarius
Sige (2015)
Oakeater is a Chicago outfit formed in the mid '00s. I must admit I was not familiar with their work before I saw that the band would be releasing their newest album, Aquarius. However, a listen of their cassette, Intrusion, got me interested so I started digging. Apart from a few standalone releases on cassette format, as well as their … Read more
Oathbreaker
Maelstrom
Deathwish Inc. (2012)
Oathbreaker are a Belgian hardcore (for lack of a better expletive) band with a tendency towards fast-paced metal riffs and an evil, crusty tone. This is their first release for Deathwish Inc. and a fairly solid debut that I’m sure will turn at least a few heads and gain them a few fans. The vocals are the standout performance of … Read more
Oathbreaker
Rheia
Deathwish Inc. (2016)
Starting off with an unusual combination of crust, hardcore and black metal, Oathbreaker have evolved significantly since their debut album, Maelstrom. The follow-up album, Eros/Anteros saw a further evolution of their sound, with post-metal elements beginning to populate their palette. This slightly eased the connection between hardcore and black metal, and resulted in a more expansive vision. Rheia comes now … Read more
OC Rippers
Wasteland Blues
Ruined Records (2022)
“Fear is a hungry beast. The more you feed it, the more it grows” J. Ripper Tenebrific cloaked figures flutter in the darkest corners amongst the dustballs. They lurk with us appearing weak or feigning injury much like the most outstanding actor of the wildlife…The Killdeer. The aegis crooked hand of doom reaches out to lovingly unsuspecting sacrificial lambs led … Read more
Oceans
Nothing Collapses
Copper Lung (2009)
Chicago natives Oceans offer up nine tracks with sixty minutes worth of music on their debut effort. The five-piece maintain a post-rock inspired craft throughout the bulk of the full-length but also find ways of incorporating mid-90's emo and post-hardcore sounds into their songs. Nothing Collapses begins with "Lit Up Under Streetlights" and you get eight minutes of light-footed post-rock … Read more
Oceansize
Effloresce
Beggars Banquet (2004)
A lot of my friends feel they have a duty to recommend me music. I don't mean to sound conceited, but I'm quite an educated individual when it comes to music of multiple genres. So when a friend suggests something to me, it's more often than not something I've already heard. But if I do have a weak spot in … Read more
Oceansize
Frames
Superball (2007)
Staying certain to an unspoken pattern of two years between releases, Oceansize has returned to us with their third full-length album. Including the bonus track, "Voorhees," Frames clocks in at over a monstrous hour and fifteen minutes, a feat that similar, non-established progressive artists have little courage for testing on the streams of today's steadily decreasing attention spans. Brave you … Read more
Oceansize
Music for Nurses
Beggars Banquet (2004)
For Oceansize, 2004 has been quite a delightful year. The band saw the re-release of their debut full-length, Effloresce, here in the US as well as a mini-tour that followed. They were able to conquer our fair country despite the geographical distance from their home. And with the most recent release of their new EP, Music for Nurses, they are … Read more
October Falls
The Plague of a Coming Age
Debemur Morti Productions (2013)
Starting life as a one-man instrumental outfit by M.Lehto in 2001, October Falls soon began to incorporate other members as well as a more metallic approach to the black metal genre and in 2007 The Streams of the End signalled a huge step for the band in terms of musical stance. Their music is steeped in the history of their … Read more
Ódú
Conversations EP
Independent (2017)
Ódú, aka Sally Ó Dúnlaing, is an Irish singer songwriter who crafts sonic heartbreak packaged in a glossy sheen of danceable pop. Born in New York and raised in the Irish seaside town of Bray, Ó Dúnlaing's Conversations EP is the singer's first foray into putting her music on record. After a period of time spent questioning whether she was … Read more
Oede
One Man's Trash
Holy Terror (2012)
It may be safe to say that since the Holy Terror Record label has been revived they have managed to get on quite a roll. The records they have released have all managed to be a bit different while still carrying a certain aesthetic darkness. With label mates such as Sutekh Hexen and Cape of Bats gaining more and more … Read more
Of Faith and Fire
Battleborn
Helicopter (2005)
Nevada is one of the last states I think of when it comes to hardcore. This is odd because the state produced one of hardcore's all-time greats in 7 Seconds and is also home to one of my favorite hardcore bands of all-time, Faded Grey. When I think of hardcore my mind tends to think of Southern California or the … Read more
Of Montreal
Satanic Panic in the Attic
Polyvinyl (2004)
One of the most prominent acts to emerge from the Elephant 6 collective, Of Montreal originated from Athens, Georgia, and is fronted by vocalist and guitarist Kevin Barnes and features bassist Nina Barnes, guitarist/synthesizer Jason NeSmith, guitarist Bryan Poole, keyboardist Dottie Alexander and drummer James Huggins. Since their conception in 1997, the group has released several albums prior to the … Read more
Off Contact
Pearls Before Swine
Independent (2023)
Pearls Before Swine= offering something of value to someone who does not understand its value or appreciate it The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. These two statements could best describe the debut release of Off Contact. To truly understand this release, it would take countless spins around the world of 33 ⅓ rotations. Easy comparisons are … Read more
Off With Their Heads
From the Bottom
No Idea (2008)
Remember when the Dropkick Murphy's were good, when they were still a bunch of drunken rabble-rousers instead of highbrow hooligans cashing in on the idea that if you give any goon a Guinness or Smitwicks, it'll make them Irish? Can't remember that far back? It's been a few years. Want a refresher on what good, rowdy, bar friendly punk rock … Read more
Off With Their Heads
Home
Epitaph (2013)
Maybe it’s because I caught Off With Their Heads live recently and maybe it’s because on Home, their third official full-length, the theme is something that songwriter Ryan Young has been hinting at all along. Either way, the songs here are familiar and powerful and they continue to deliver in a similar vein as to the rest of their output, … Read more
