Deathcore is perhaps the most up and down genre for me. I have loved it, I used to be a massive Whitechapel fan (I still like them, just not as much). I also love bands like Annotations Of An Autopsy, As Blood Runs Black, Suicide Silence, and at one stage I loved BMTH (I’m sorry). However, when I got deeper into Death Metal I left the core behind, a bit like eating an apple really. That core festered and I didn’t much care for it in the end, to the point where I blamed it for the devolution of Slam. In fact, it’s still a slight gripe, whilst I appreciate the likes of Within Destruction of Vulvodynia they’ll never be the ‘trve’ Slam of old (what an elitist twat I am).
Anyway why am I talking about Deathcore, well because of the UK based quintet Osiah. This band has been on my radar for a little while now, in fact I even saw them support Cattle Decapitation back in Manchester in 2019. However, despite this I’ve never really gone in for the album experience and as such I was excited by the opportunity to review the bands all important third full length simply titled Loss. This album comes to us through Unique Leader Records and promises some Tech Deathcore fire! Is it yet another feather in the cap of the ever growing and ever exciting UK Metal scene though?
Insert generic intro track here, this is exactly what Realm Of Misery does, a complete waste of a minute, just get on with it! The Second Law does kick right in though it has to be said, those opening vocals are huge and full of real Deathcore grit. The instrumentation (especially drumming) really kicks things up a notch too. Plus, you’ve got flashes of Tech and nasty breakdown, this is how I like my Deathcore. Paracusia and Queen Of Sorrow only go to strengthen this. Honestly when I first looked at this release I thought it would be far too try hard, but no, it’s a thoroughly interesting listen and honestly some of the best Deathcore I’ve heard in a very long time. I love how it sounds so fresh but has a real traditional old school Deathcore vibe to it. I honestly feel like I’m listening to Whitechapel for the first time and that’s awesome. Title track Loss is huge, I love the melodic intro, when it kicks off things just go mental, this album makes me lust for live shows like nothing before, there is a word we use on the Dark Tryal radio show to describe something as particularly good, norty, this is norty.
Even breaking into the second half of the record with Terracide Compulsion my attention is undivided. I think I just love how this release doesn’t really reinvent the wheel but still keeps things interesting with that added Tech/ Melodic Death element. The breakdowns in War Within Our Walls are absolutely epic and in fact I think this could even be the best song on the album, an all-round blinding performance. Another contender for best song would also have to be the punchy Celer Et Audax. This is a blistering Deathcore track full of brimming musical talent and exceptional vocal delivery. The album finally rounds off nicely with Already Lived, another powerful and strong addition to the album.
So Loss, absolutely killer Deathcore that’s for sure (other aspiring Deathcore bands take note). Do I have any issues with it though? Well, for one the intro track as previously mentioned is pointless, I’m not all that into that sort of thing in Extreme Metal albums unless it’s a sample or something fun. Also, the album is almost fifty minutes, now I’m not saying I can’t handle that but there are points where it runs a little thin, however it’s certainly not a case of quantity over quality. Even the weaker songs are still bangers, but I could stand to see a couple cut perhaps to aid in the overall flow. None the less this is absolutely one of the strongest Deathcore albums I’ve heard in years and Osiah should be extremely proud of their efforts here.
(8/10 George Caley)
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