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
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
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
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
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
Old Sun
Old Sun
Faux Fetus (2006)
I received this release and was intrigued by its DIY packaging: card stock covered in some kind of blue block print with a heavier cardboard latch closing the front. I'm unable to decipher the artwork, but it looks awesome. Old Sun is from the city of brotherly love, my new hometown. One of the first things I noticed about this … Read more
Once Nothing
First Came the Law
Solid State (2008)
It's been a few years now since I first became acquainted with Once Nothing. They were just a local band playing shows wherever they could and having a good time playing to whoever would listen. Now the band is on Solid State, touring the U.S., and First Came the Law is their first big-label release. Once Nothing fuses together the … Read more
One Hundred Year Ocean
Where Were You While We Were Getting High?
Broken World Media (2013)
Where Were You While We Were Getting High?, the latest release from the seven-member Connecticut indie-emo band One Hundred Year Ocean, is a four-track collection of massive, breathtaking sonic concoctions.The EP starts with the slow, slightly depressing “Hospital Town”. “Soco Amaretto Bud Light Lime” immediately follows with a faster tempo and brighter feel. “Apples” preserves the happy vibe with upbeat … Read more
One Step Forward
Positive Thinking
Our Pride (2006)
Hey wow, great, albeit, generic 2000-era straightedge hardcore in the vein of Floorpunch, In My Eyes and Fastbreak before they wanted girlfriends. This EP is all about the stage dives; dive-bomb intros, and playing as fast as humanly possible without losing a sense of melody. If the last song, "No End in Site," weren't your typical Modern Life is War/Comeback … Read more
One Win Choice
Define/Redefine
Jump Start (2009)
Don't you love finding new punk bands? I sure do, which is why I was stoked to find out about New Jersey's One Win Choice who have just put out a new 7" with five adrenalizing new songs. There's not really a lot to say about this band because they sound very similar to a lot of other melodic hardcore … Read more
Orgone
The Goliath
Independent (2007)
Orgone is an interesting term that refers to the "life energy" of humans. It may exist; it may not. That's all up for debate. One thing that is certain is that Orgone, the metal band from Pittsburgh, plays some seriously intense tunes. This four-piece group of fellows fused together technical metal, grindcore, and even dashes of hardcore and drone metal … Read more
ORSO
Ask Your Neighbor
Contraphonic (2008)
One man project by Portland's Phil Spirito, who evidently has a lot of musician friends that helped out with this recording. Sparse, subtle arrangements are the norm for this outing. If I had a dream about this record, I would think it is either Tom Waits or Neil Young crashing an Alan Lomax recording session. Apparently there is such a … Read more
Otoboke Beaver
Love is Short
Damnably Records (2017)
To put it mildly, Otoboke Beaver's Love is Short doesn't beat around the bush, though that phrase seems wildly inappropriate given the origin of the band's name. Following a churning title track that sets off immediately at breakneck speed and features aggressive foreign-language vocal shouts, shrieks, and howls, even -gasp- a bit of melody, the album transitions to the more … Read more
Our Times
Our Times
Headcount (2006)
Buffalo has a rich history as far as hardcore goes. In recent years things have been a bit stagnant, but bands like Dead Hearts and Our Times are looking to change that. Our Times are a straightedge band that play ultra-fast hardcore punk. Musically, I could see them fitting in with the Youngblood Records catalog. They've got that youth-crew revival … Read more
Out to Sea
Mouth Like a Sailor
Independent (2008)
Hailing from outside of Dallas, this Texas hardcore outfit delivers six tracks of premium melodic hardcore with a slightly metallic edge. Musically their sound reminds me of Shai Hulud, but a little bit more melodic perhaps Kid Dynamite-esque at points. They've got it all, good sing-along parts, some fast-paced two-stepping parts, and of course good breakdowns. For a demo recording … Read more
Outbreak
Work to Death
Think Fast! (2009)
I'll be honest here. I was never a huge Outbreak fan. You Make Us Sick was fairly decent, but I was never really sold on the group. I have a lot of friends that swear by that record and the subsequent release of Failure. but I'm just not one of them. Anyway, Work to Death is a new 7" single … Read more
Outclassed
This Might Be Coincidence...
Forcefield (2009)
Outclassed's This Might Be Coincidence is a five-song escape from tranquility. Their satisfyingly raucous punk is filled with energy and misshapen tempos. Song titles like "Kick God in the Face, Hail Satan" and "Fuck Mark" are almost impossible to hate. Their label Forcefield Records is also home to City of Ships, Triac, and Cannabis Corpse. The one-sided LP release of … Read more
