When O’Death began at the start of this century/millennium, a collective of backwoods-looking folks playing backwoods instruments, but in a modern alt-stomp/freak-folk style, was something new – but by now, it’s a bit old hat. So the band has shifted their sound from their prior release, Broken Hymns, Limbs and Skins (QRO review), for a stripped down, ominous, and even tragic style.
From opener/single “Bugs” onwards, O’Death mix pluck, stomp, and harmony while singing about either tragedy coming, or the tragedy that has arrived. “Black Dress” feels like a post-Civil War honky-folk elegy, while “Howling Through” sees storm clouds a-comin’. While it never breaks through into really seminal or standout Americana, it also never really slips (save for the attempt to mix their old stomp with their new slant on the clanging closer, “The Lake Departed”).
Longtime fans of O’Death, while happy that the band is back after drummer David Rogers-Berry successfully beat cancer, will probably be wanting the big hootenanny of ye olde O’Death, and new listeners while probably think Outside is a lesser-ran in today’s stocked Americana scene. But it’s still rare a band that can do both.
MP3 Stream: “Howling Through”
