Raw almost primal, the sound of German metallers Olymp is as intriguing as it is rousing certainly within their new self-titled EP. With its Teutonic heavy metal breeding and hungrily driving riffery described as being traditional 80´s styled, it is a proposition which demands attention yet it only tells part of the sonic picture. There is rabidity and essence of its character which is pure punk rock and an additional multi-flavoured web of flavours and imagination which only gives richer texture to its breath. It all goes to make the EP an introduction to the band that refuses to be ignored.
Formed in 2018, the Augsburg quartet consists of Butschi (guitars, vocals), André (bass), Armin (guitars), and Dommi (drums). There is little more we can tell you about the band but it is all about their first EP and that quickly gripped ears and appetite with opener Lightning Eater. Its initial bass lure simply teased attention, the quickly joining wires of guitar just as enticing as the song rose to its threatening feet though its menace is as alluring as it is predatory. It is with Butschi’s grouchy vocals and the subsequent band hollers that that punk essence arises, a voracious scent which aligns potently with the classic metal teased skilfully woven web of grooves and riffs that fuel the excellent start to the EP.
Fire And Fury is next up and begins with its own dark, imposing invitation for ears and imagination, one proving easy to quickly devour and relish as it continues to darkly stain the weave of metal flames and sonic enterprise wrapping rhythmic agility. As with the first song, its body is perpetually galvanic and chorus anthemic cajoling as once again punk and metal unite in an almost garage bred styling of both flavours.
A Celtic hue lines the beginnings of the following Shut Down, the guitar proving a web of sonic intoxication as rhythms create a contagious shuffle. Dark shadows court both at the same time, brewing an invasive hue to the subsequent punk ‘n heavy metal dance. If you can imagine a hybrid sound from a union of the punk density of The Lurkers, the melodic endeavour of U.D.O, and the metal esurience of Destruction then maybe a hint of the song’s and Olymp’s sound becomes clearer.
The EP ends with The Messenger, it’s melodic beckoning straight away wrapping around welcoming ears before riffs and hooks collude to further and increasingly tempt. From within that potent draw a controlled thrash hued swing begins its own thick enticement. Admittedly by its close it was a track which could not quite find the impressive heights of its predecessors but had plenty to hold court in ears and appetite as imagination shaped its fascination inciting presence.
Olymp’s sound as rousing as it is feels like it is only at the beginning of its journey and evolution and a fine adventure it should be for all if they build on and push the highly enjoyable and impressive enterprise within their first release; we wait in eager anticipation.
The Olymp EP is out now with limited availability @ https://olympmetal.bandcamp.com/album/olymp-e-p
https://www.facebook.com/OlympMetal/
Pete RingMaster 03/10/2019
Copyright RingMaster: MyFreeCopyright
The dark and sinister I Am Among You follows, its initial lure setting the emotional scene before the band toy with the imagination with a Fear Factory/Metallica like trespass of the soul. Predatory and often demonic but from start to finish commandingly seductive, the track manages to eclipse the might of those before it, setting a new plateau within the album in pleasure and imagination before Drowning, Fading, Falling floats in on orchestral melancholy. Soon the mountainous beats of Dette and another brooding bassline from Walker are courting the sonic weave of Wells, together crafting another encounter which skilfully merges raw intensity with melodic tempers. A slow burner in relation to the earlier tracks, it grows into an easy to get greedy over threat, each listen, as with the album, revealing new layers and nuances within its storm.
It is a mighty start taken another level by Wheel of Swords, another track with an irresistible start to its creative alchemy. A great nagging from riffs as rhythms tumble vivaciously coaxes ears first, their lure replicated in varying tones as sterner grooves and muscular predation swiftly looms up with the again potent vocals of Morris at their helm. Like Black Tusk meets Baroness with a spicing of Sabbath and Clutch to it, the song has energy and pleasure in its hands with quick ease, handing over an exhausted and rapturous body to the following Into The Trees and its mellow climate around melodic prowess. Keys emotively caress as the guitars strokes the senses with elegant suggestiveness to match the melancholic voice of Morris. The first half of the song is wrapped in this mesmeric beauty, its second a rugged landscape of again incendiary rhythms amidst tangy classic metal/rock endeavour and striking vocals.
A great start is matched by the following Attack of the Virus where again riffs and rhythms collude with ripe vocal bait to create a virulent slab of thrash addictiveness. Those earlier mentions influences are heard across song and of course album, extra colour to the infectious exploits of the band. A hostile swagger and enticing grooves unite to create a bruising march on the senses whilst a spicy sonic guitar solo towards the song’s end, is a moment revealing more of the skill and imagination of the band.
Catching the anthemic essences of thrash and punk in one almighty invitation, it is a thrilling start potently backed straight away by the even more hostile Lemon Eyed Devil and the following irritability of Angle Disruption. The first of the two is sheer primal virulence, vocals and grooves a spiteful bait against the fiercely provocative muscles of Jason ‘Cranswick’ Mosdell’s swings and Stuart ’Jonny Goler’ Carruthers predatory bass lines. Its punk rabidity is matched by that of its successor, a song with a bee in its bonnet and malevolence in its breath. Again though, every hook and rhythmic swipe seems to have a devious contagion matched by grooves and riffs, an enslavement of ears and imagination upon which the vocal squalls impressively vent.
the contagion of the track but it is the virulent riffing alongside spicy grooves and hooks which turns recognisable seeds into a masterfully magnetic proposition. The track leaves appetite and ears that little hungrier, an increasing greed the title track is only too please to satisfy. From a sonic drama a delicious throaty bassline steps forward, skirted by a rhythmic shuffle of beats. It is a bait impossible to resist, even more so when a tangy solo sears its addictive web. In full flight, the song does not quite live up to its opening or predecessor but still lays down an anthemic and contagious provocation to devour, especially with the addition of a bluesy colouring and subsequently furious animosity.
their confrontation. The first of the two combines a demeanour which stalks the ear and an all-out slaughter of the senses, alternating both as again rhythms become a relentless provocateur and riffs a feverish single minded yet inventive spite. Add bordering on corrosive grooves and raw vocal squalls and you have a second thrilling assault emulated straight away by the second of the two songs. This is built from a similar template to the last track but adds its own intrigue soaked twists of pace and sonic ideation. It does not quite match up to those before it, such their quality, but the following Born to Kill certainly has no problem setting another pinnacle with its swaggering riffery and scything grooves across at times a just as catchy rhythmic devilry. The song is still a destructive slab of sonic malignancy but it just makes you feel like dancing as it violates the soul.