Yes, Osmium Guillotine have released a new EP.
Subhuman, the third release from the Essex-based mock-metal four piece, rounds off a pretty decent couple of months for the band. They were nominated for Best Band at the Panic Awards 2012 in April and followed their awards night performance with an appearance at the Mansfield Metal Gods festival in May.
Subhuman opens with Blight Upon Mankind, a song with a typically bleak subject matter (a creature(s) rising from a tomb to destroy mankind) and an ominous Hammett/Hetfield style guitar intro. James Balcombe’s drumming is solid and to the point; his fills are without frills and he resists the urge to constantly clutter with the fussy thundering of double bass drums. The huge riff is the strongest element of the track, though it wouldn’t be complete without the signature dual guitar solo.
It’s probably an understatement to say that any band are taking a massive risk by including a voiceover containing the words ‘sieg’ and ‘heil’ in one of their songs, but then you’re missing the point if you take Osmium Guillotine too seriously. D-Day is a shot at history through the heavy metal mangle, and while it may do little for their EP sales in the Fatherland, OG’s two lead guitarists Lance Steele and Pete Keliris really come to the fore on this track.
Hobgoblin could be a beer festival favourite. The song pays homage to Wychwood brewery’s Hobgoblin beer, and its quirky, mythical fantasy feel is underpinned by Elijah Kindon’s spoken/chanted vocals as the track launches into a driving punk rhythm. With the potential to become a real ale anthem, it won’t be long before Hobgoblin has lager drinkers cowering behind their fancy continental pint glasses.
Fourth track Genocide has the same controversial undertones as D-Day, with the band again running close to the mark with lyrics about mass murder most foul. There’s more than a hint of East Bay thrash about this one, which sets it apart from the other slower tempo numbers on the EP, though it still retains the tongue in cheek attitude that stops you from squirming in your headphones on first listen.
Title track Subhuman closes out the EP with a sprawling seven minute slog. There is a change of feel dead-on halfway through, and the amalgamation of the slower sludge pace with a (seemingly) ceaseless guitar solo shows enough versatility to back up the devil horns bravado. While the riff is still king for most of this last seven minutes, you do get the feeling that all of the guys pushed themselves that little bit more on this one in order to leave a good lasting impression.
The EP also includes live versions of the first four tracks; proof enough that OG are not mere slaves to the evil reign of Pro Tools.
Subhuman is available now on CD for £4 or for download at £3 from www.osmiumguillotine.com/album/subhuman
