ALBUM REVIEW: Exist – OHHMS

“MURDER!” This is one of the last things you’ll hear in the closing moments of the colossal opening track Subject of the new OHHMS record, Exist. The emotion poured out by Paul Waller in that final refrain is tangible, and it helps make the moment the stand out segment on what is, by and large, a huge step forward for a band that had already set up shop firmly outside the box. Now armed with a collective of messages they believe in wholeheartedly, OHHMS have streamlined their approach without losing any of the nuances that made them such an exciting prospect for British doom in the first place.

Subject is a glorious statement of intent from OHHMS, pummelling the listener with swelling grooves and Paul’s outstanding vocals cut through the mix with a gravelly warmth that really sets him apart from his contemporaries. The best thing about this 23-minute monster is just how well it flows from its droning opening chords through to the repeated chorus that works it way back multiple times. This makes Subject one of the fewest songs of this length that are actually catchy, with a clear structure that benefits it to no end.

Subject is easily one of the best songs released this year, and comfortably one of OHHMS best tracks, and it is followed by three more songs of equal quality. The descending riffs of Shambles were the first taste of Exist many had, and the gentle vocals that reflect some of the early prog projects that have clearly bled their way into the DNA of the band. As the song goes on the riff and rhythms begin to evolve, keeping the interest well and truly in hand despite the trudging pace of the song. This is a noticeably slower offering than its predecessor, but it still cements OHHMS as experts in pacing, and something they have developed and worked on over their tenure.

On The Fool, the band’s debut, whilst they were able to show signs of a band that had more creativity than they sometimes knew what do with, which makes it all the more shocking when the realisation that Exist was supposed to come out in 2020. This album was brought forward by almost two years, and only a year after their impressively lengthy debut, which makes the improvements the band have made on their sound all the more impressive. Whether it’s the deliberate and calmer approach to Calves before oppressive down strokes begin to pummel the listen or even the emphatic ending thanks to the relevant and relatable anti-gun message on Lay Down Your Arms delivered with such frantic pace that it goes a long way to show the plethora of influences OHHMS pull from when writing.

This is an album from a band with something to say, and the way they say it goes a long way to making Exist such a compelling listen. Paul delivers his lyrics as if he were talking to friends as opposed to dictating how other people should live, offering reasoned cries like the final moments of Subject when he begins to show the futility of categorising animals when it boils down to the fact that all things should be treated with equality. It’s a message that is stronger now than ever, and the passion that Paul delivers isn’t construed with a superiority that can come across so easily.

Exist is a statement of intent from a band that are beginning to prove themselves to be a pioneering act. From the catchy and exceptional songwriting on a 23-minute song like Subject through to diverse influences that bleed in from every corner of this record, OHHMS have outdone themselves in epic fashion and in record time. If this was done with two years to spare, what’s going to happen when they take a longer period to begin crafting again? We don’t know for sure but it’s bound to be brilliant.

Rating: 9/10 

Exist is out now via Holy Roar Records.

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