Genesis PT. II - ONI
ONI is another case of one of those bands that I somehow missed as they were coming up, and after getting the chance to listen to their new EP early, I’m kicking myself for being so late to the party. ONI has been around since 2014, releasing three albums and three EPs during that time. The group has also worked with big names in the Metal scene, most notably Randy Blythe of Lamb of God, Howard Jones of Killswitch Engage (previously), producer Josh Wilbur (Lamb of God, Korn, Trivium, Suicide Silence, Motionless in White, etc) as well as Josh Gilbert (Spiritbox, As I Lay Dying, Wovenwar). The band has seen some lineup changes over the years, but vocalist Jake Oni has remained the constant, offering stability and killer vocals.
Genesis Pt. II is a follow-up to an EP released earlier this year (that I need to go back and check out), showcasing the band’s clear understanding of the Alt-Metal genre and continuing the evolution of a genre that has been seeing a resurgence lately. All of the songs on this release sound like they would be at home on SiriusXM’s Octane channel, much like Sleep Theory - another Alt-Metal band rising in the scene that sounds similar to ONI. People like to use that as an insult (Octanecore), but I mean it as a compliment here (especially as a fan of the channel). I can see where the insult comes from, with a lot of Alternative and Metal music played on the channel starting to sound generic, but that does not apply here. Genesis Pt. II’s only real sin is that the production quality unfortunately continues the trend of sounding too “sterile”, with little room for fuzz and room tone. I can’t fully fault Josh Gilbert for his production though, as this is just where the industry is headed, and I need to “get with the times”. I’ll still call it out when I hear it, but this appears to be the new normal in music, no matter the genre.
The standout tracks here are “Reset”, “Retribution”, and “What I’ve Become”. “What I’ve Become” is a straightforward Metal track with a good balance of screams and cleans. “Retribution” offers more of the Metal side to the Alt-Metal equation, with plenty of screams and a soaring guitar solo. Finally, “Reset” is another more Metal-focused track with “beefier” riffs and more screaming than cleans. The lead single “Float” is also excellent, but I personally liked these three tracks a little more. The instrumentation isn’t overcomplicated or too flashy, but I kept finding myself wishing it had a little more to it. The writing is not bad and serves the music, but I kept wanting more. Jake’s vocals are the driving force on this release without a doubt.
ONI knows exactly what it is and doesn’t try to be something it isn’t, which I appreciate. It’s a passionate Alt-Metal EP that doesn’t try to be flashy or punch above its weight. The EP also doesn’t overstay its welcome and gets to the point, with 6 songs spanning across 21 minutes. It’s definitely worth jumping into and checking out when it releases on August 1st!