Easily harmonising weighty metal riffs and walls of sound with uplifting pop hooks and rhythmic tension, NSW South Coast four-piece Oshie have presented a satisfying sampler release with neat three-track Black. Prior to the recording of their debut LP this year, members Dan, Aaron, Joel and Liam have worked hard to build hype for their emerging band, and the results are starting to pay off through releasing this content.
Opener ‘Blocks’ kicks off proceedings with a jagged syncopated riff into Joel’s smooth pop vocals gliding above the grinding groove, wasting no time to launch into a freeing chorus, “we all get carried away, whatever, whatever, give me a reason to stay”. Such lyrics reflect feelings of loss, isolation, hopelessness and desperation inherent to Black, making the songs come across as a hybrid of heavier, metallic Emo rock, with a similar urgency in vocal delivery to singers such as Brendon Urie and Gerard Way. Bearing a uniquely Australian vibe and voice, capable of blending pop hooks with heavy elements, Oshie are also reminiscent of prog-icons Red Bee, another NSW band with a bee as their logo, just like Oshie’s. A homage, perhaps? Towards the end of ‘Blocks’ a spacey guitar interlude from Liam elevates the rhythm to more than the sum of its parts before dropping the blocks back into the initial groove and placement. Another chorus and a washy instrumental outro with cymbal tones and swirling guitar distortion signals closure.
Second track ‘Breathe’ immediately maintains the blend of insightful emotional lyrics with pummelling rock grooves, before breaking down into a jagged solo riff and back into the main rock feel. A short and sweet solo into a second chorus and back into an instrumental section derived from the main riff, and the song suddenly collides with a bleak and sombre down-paced section, the segued introduction of ‘War Alone’. The transition is so smooth that the third song comes across as being a continuation of ‘Breathe’. Some quiet, melancholy vocal harmonies suddenly thrust this third track into an immense, distorted section before continuing the rhythm of the change at its original, softer dynamics. ‘War Alone’ then continues its slow and sombre stomping rhythm with Joel’s smooth voice effortlessly coasting above it all. The beginning of the end comes through the track devolving into a synchronised breakdown pattern, before signalling the end of Black with Liam’s spacey, delayed chords into oblivion, feeding back into nothingness.
Powerful, efficient songwriting of this calibre definitely doesn’t mature overnight and the group now sound like they’re here to stay for the long-haul through the imminent release of their debut album. There’s palpable enthusiasm for these men to be building on their reputation from such a dynamic, clean and memorable sampler release, so bring it on, Oshie.
• ORIGINALLY WRITTEN FOR OSHIE ON MARCH 25TH, 2019