Artist: Ohyda
Country: Poland
Label: Wolfspell Records
Formats: CD EP
Year: 2023
Following two praiseworthy EPs released in 2022, this year brings us the third EP in the discography of Poland’s Ohyda. After guitar, bass and keyboard player Bloodwhip had graced the cover of the first EP and vocalist Necheshetrion featured on the previous EP, it’s the turn of the third and last band member, drummer Diabolizer, to complete the trilogy by appearing on the cover of ‘Psalmy śmierci’.
As a band that only started a few years ago, there had been a slight shift in the material from the debut EP ‘Ohyda Spustoszenia’ to the following ‘W imieniu Bestii‘. Both of the releases had featured a major influence of early Darkthrone and Behemoth, but the initial Burzum touches had been traded for a slightly more French sound on the second of the EPs. ‘Psalmy śmierci’ isn’t that different from the previous EP, with the exception that the sound is a tad sharper and rawer than before. But it’s especially the ferocity and grimness that seem to be even further enhanced. The keyboards that were present on the first EP but seemed gone on ‘W imieniu Bestii‘ make their reentry in style, adding a bleak and haunting layer that combines the best of the previous works. That package includes the return of a stellar vocal performance by Necheshetrion that more than matches the wild nature of the music. A track like ‘Płonąca róża’ really just has it all, from a pummeling intro, to rocking and grooving rhythms and raging vocals all enhanced with an ever so sutble atmospheric undertone. A track like ‘Diabelska rozkosz’ even has a resemblance to the Nidrosian Black Metal act Mare on their sensational ‘Spheres Like Death’ EP, which should be considered as nothing less than a great compliment. Three EPs down the line, Ohyda have done nothing else but impress with their take on raw Black Metal. If the band keeps improving from one release like another like they have on this triplet of EPs, then their debut album is bound to be stellar!
