It’s all well and good to play some crispy doom metal that is no less than crushing, but it’s another thing entirely to mix it with other elements to create a tasty sound in the end that’s both cohesive and compelling. Sludge metal is an art that’s been mixed with doom for decades but not many bring both of those into a cauldron and then proceed to toss some post-metal in there with a hit of minor psychedelia. Onhou attempts such with their debut EP, and while it’s not perfect it’s still entrancing nonetheless.

A debut EP is something that really shows what the band brings to the table and shows the band’s mindset. Sure, it’s not always of the highest quality and the band in question can always get better with more experience, it’s that initial taste that can show what the group is all about. Onhou doesn’t give us a whole hell of a lot with a two-track to start things off, but with both of them clocking over ten minutes it invokes a sense of curiosity if you’re anything like me. And once you experience both tracks of this eponymous piece, you’ll see that Onhou can do two things pretty fucking well: (1) they have an excellent sense of pacing to make both of them entertaining, and (2) they know how to make the excitement last for the duration of both pieces. It’s not a rollercoaster where some parts are noticeably better than others, but instead a consistent pace of intense doom that’s not afraid to make things incredibly atmospheric and immersive. That alone allows Onhou to create a different kind of rollercoaster the likes of which I’m more than happy to ride time and again. It’s far from a polished ride, but there’s definite talent and it makes the experience worth it in the end.

Onhou has done a solid job at showing what they’re capable of, and these two tracks do a brilliant job of that. I’ve always been a massive advocate of keeping anything from a loose eye to an incredibly close eye on budding acts (it varies from band to band, naturally) simply because that’s how well-known acts are made! When it comes to Onhou I strongly support keeping an eye on this quintet as their special blend of sludgy doom is something I’d be more than happy to revisit.

LISTEN to “Onhou” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Onhou on Facebook here.