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
Oedipus
Covetous
The Den Recorders (2008)
Oedipus, a three piece making more noise than a three piece rightly should, manage the type of grandiose guitar rock both melodic and epic, while never coming across as trying too hard. Their latest EP, Covetous, offers seven over-sexed, balls out, tracks at a clock time of just under half an hour. Vocalist/bassist Jeremy Haffner's harmonic wail sets the band … 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 Balance
Demo
Independent (2006)
Whoa! It's like I hit a time warp and traveled back to the early years of the NYHC scene. But I didn't. Off Balance hail from Indianapolis and they're out and about playing gigs right now. This demo is seven tracks of throwback hardcore that draws heavily from bands like Sheer Terror and Killing Time. I found it interesting that … 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
Off With Their Heads
In Desolation
Epitaph (2010)
Off With Their Heads have built a reasonable fanbase within the fest related punk scene. This is due to certain consistency in their style, without being all the same all the time. Gruff vocals, bass heavy songs, and depressing lyrics all have their place in this. So one had to expect a backlash of sorts when, after a series of … Read more
Off!
Free LSD
Fat Possum Records (2022)
Blistering fast-paced Punk Rock energy proton pills shoved down your esophagus. Gobble Gobble. Glug Glug Glug, Rallllph... Let’s Get It On and not like the Ed Sheeran Remake ha ha ha. Everyone's loveable favourite punk that seemingly appears in every Punk Rock documentary…Keith Morris continues to pulverize, perpetuate, pontificate and ponder life, death and all that other gobbly gook in … Read more
Off!
Self Titled
Vice (2012)
This record is way too long. Nah, with 16 songs in 17 minutes, it’s shorter than a heart attack. And, hopefully, that will be my only elderstateman reference in here. For those living under a rock since 2010, Off! is a new Keith Morris (Circle Jerks, Black Flag) fronted hardcore band where he is joined by Dimitri Coats (Burning Brides), … Read more
Off!
Wasted Years
Vice (2014)
I generally hate punctuation in a band name, but it’s uncommonly fitting with Off!. Sure, they only included it to keep the pesticide theme going, but every scrap of vitriol that Keith Morris shouts out in the lyrics deserves to be followed with the exclamation point. It’s loud, shocked, and direct as hell. Almost every song uses the first or … Read more
Offsides
It's a Struggle to Communicate
Get Outta Town (2008)
Here's something new for you. Well maybe not new, but something we don't get much of these days. Offsides is a fast-paced melodic hardcore group from Connecticut with a female front-person. It's a Struggle to Communicate is the band's latest offering, a six-song EP. Musically the group draws influence from legendary groups like 7 Seconds and Gorilla Biscuits. The music … Read more
Ogives
La Mémoire des Orages
Sub Rosa (2023)
Ogives are led by ambition. That is the easiest way to describe the newly formed, nine-piece from Belgium. Featuring members of the criminally underrated, and equally ambitious Helium Horse Fly, Ogives make a start to their discography with the 75-minute long opus, La Mémoire des Orages (roughly translated to The Memory of Storms.) And it is very much a storm … Read more
Oh No
Ohnomite
Brick (2012)
Following two collaborative efforts already this year alongside his fellow beatsmith and emcee The Alchemist as the duo Gangrene—the Vodka & Ayahuasca LP and the Odditorium EP—the West Coast producer and rapper Oh No returns once more for a solo mission with Ohnomite. Oh No—the younger brother of Madlib and son of singer Otis Jackson—was granted unmatched right of entry … Read more
Oiltanker
Shadow of Greed/Crusades
Southern Lord (2012)
A while back I caught Oiltanker in the midst of the second day of Midwest Hell Fest—a one-off weekend crust punk festival that was happening in, of all places, a sports bar in Kimberly, Wisconsin. I was thoroughly enthralled by the outpouring of anger emanating from the stage while they were up there, yet I was simultaneously battling the inevitable … Read more
Okie Dokie
Okie Dokie
Aagoo (2009)
The band is named Okie Dokie. The artwork is simple and to the point. In other words, Okie Dokie doesn't hide the fact that they're a dirty rock band, blending balls to the wall sleaze rock with fast, sloppy surf garage at its heart. The record is only eight songs, and whatever vinyl format it's on (I received a promo … Read more
