Some names are guarantee of success, of safety, of taste, etc. It is the same with music. Certain bands, or countries, are sure to have quality material, and we, the fans, guide ourselves based on those pointers. Ohyda is a Polish band, which should put you in alert mode. Sort of like the Portuguese Black Metal scene… sure win! Poland is known for superb Black Metal acts, but at the same time very controversial. Bands like Graveland, Veles or Infernum – politics aside, we cannot ignore the quality – have branded a sound that those that came after them have a hard time maintaining. The atmosphere is not the same, of that we are well aware; the commitment can very well be the same, yes.
Ohyda is a 3-man-piece formed in 2021 and with a very valid background in music. Their music is straight forward Black Metal, “punch in the stomach, spit in the face” type of Black Metal. Nothing new, nothing complex, just the way I like it. ‘Psalmy Smierci’ is the band’s 3rd EP in 2 years, and it is a raging ride! Although very “in your face”, the band’s sound never falls into a bland replica of what has been done before; the riffs have dynamics and the overall performance is varied enough to keep us there, listening, absorbing.
As stated before, the trio presents a very interesting Black Metal sound, with differentiated details that give it a nice boost. Last track is a great closure! Dark, haunting, heavy, dense… the general idea that stays with the listener is of a very efficient trio of musicians with a keen ear for Black Metal. It might not sound 100% Polish – if there ever was a Polish sound – but the composition is more than valid.
