Band info
Band: Othismos
Album: ‘Sottrazione’
Released: December 16th, 2024
Genre: black-crust, post-hardcore
Location: Italy
Review
Today’s band was introduced to ABMN a few weeks ago with a new single: “Cops Are Not People“. It immediately got our attention, obviously! Then, we found out this Italian trio has been around since 2012 and is back from a small hiatus with a new full-length: ‘Sottrazione’. So, of course, we would be talking about them, and celebrating the reappearance of a clearly antifascist and qualitative project.
They are Othismos, influenced by very recognisable genres, but quite hard to solidly tag within one label. For now, we’ll call it black crust. ‘Sottrazione’ is the band’s third LP, the first one fully written in English – except for the album’s title and the name of the song “Pars destruens” – and a palate for new ideas. Listening to their past catalogue, we can say that they have taken a step away from the abrasiveness of black metal’s sound by reducing blasts, repetitive fast riffing, and shifting the production into a still crusty but more consistent sound.
The opener, “I Will Fade Away“, exposes a more sludge-oriented composition that keeps showing along the record. ‘Sottrazione’ also contains high levels of “post-” with different surnames, such as hardcore, rock… setting a gloomy mood all over the anger against this oppressive and manipulative system. It maintains its blackened crust-punk essence, but there’s also room for melody and dissonance, hints of psychedelia, and two-stage structures like “Burn the Flags“‘s, along with other metal elements.
It’s quite a particular and very interesting approach to what we understand as black crust, and it is a very worthy listen. You know you have been interested since the very first sentence. So, go listen to Othismos, and remember 1312 times, All Cats Are Beautiful!
Other links and platforms:
BC: https://othismos.bandcamp.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/othismos666/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Othismosrock