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
O Pioneers!!! / The Anchor
Split
Triumph of Life (2008)
The great state of Texas offers up two songs a piece from O Pioneers!!! and The Anchor. In the works for over a year, this split 7" is finally available to all who boast a beard! O Pioneers!!! offers up two cuts of dirty punk that will appeal to anyone who loves Asian Man and No Idea Records. I've had … Read more
Oak & Bone
Oak & Bone
Hex (2009)
Oak and Bone hail from upstate New York, but when you listen to their debut 7" you would definitely not assume that by any guess. While their history is rooted in hardcore punk, the three-piece from Syracuse take a different approach to the style. The 7" opens with "On Your Own or Not at All," which is a sludgy punk/grunge … 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
Oasis
Knebworth – Two Nights That Will Live Forever
Cassell Publishing (2021)
Indulging in the seductive lies of nostalgia often means that rough edges are taken from the brittle pages of the good old days, especially when it comes to stories emanating from the realm of rock’n roll and the self-congratulatory celebrations of each generations’ hey-days. However, no matter if you hold Oasis in high esteem or not, it was quite something … Read more
Oasis
Supersonic: The Complete, Authorised & Unabridged Interviews
Hachette Publishing (2021)
Despite having parted way more than twelve years ago, Oasis and the way they have diligently and borderline religiously channelled their Beatles worship continues to be one of the most influential British bands of all time. No matter if you were into what was labelled “Cool Britannia” in the 1990s or do not dig them, chances are that you do … 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
Obscurus Advocam
Verbia Daemonicus
Battle Kommand (2007)
I've been told that France has been home to a few good bands over the years, but like you, aside from Air I'd be hard pressed to name them. Sure we've read about those wacky French kids jumping on the church-burning, murderous bandwagon, but can they play music? Well, let's just say they try, but don't quite get there. Obscurus … 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
Ocrilim
ANNWN
Hydra Head (2008)
Metal is constantly making relatives with classical and orchestra. Sometimes though, you have to remember why they are separate. Mick Barr is a very gifted individual; Wikipedia calls him "an American avant-garde metal guitarist." Though I would say his ability to shred with a relentless speed make him more than just that. He is more notably the second half of … 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
Oddateee
Halfway Homeless
Deadverse (2008)
Oddateee is the first artist signed to Dälek's Deadverse Recordings label. As a result of this I instantly knew the music, lyrics, and delivery would not be your everyday rap/hip-hop and that is a good thing. Halfway Homeless is an intriguing mash of traditional hip-hop with that of jazz and noisy indie rock. Over the course of these twelve songs, … Read more
Odious Mortem
Cryptic Implosion
Willowtip (2007)
Odious Mortem's website describes their sound as employing "technical, dark, and experimental aspects of the death metal genre." When I think death metal I think Nile, Suffocation, maybe even Slayer. Odious Mortem are what Slayer might sound like if you replaced Kerry King with a jet engine. Vaguely reminiscent of early Fear Factory and Dillinger Escape Plan, for the most … Read more
