The Italian-German band Okolyt offers a mixture of heavy sounds with an Old-School imprint steeped in Psychedelia and Stoner. The new EP “Restless” was released on June 06, 2024, self-produced and contains five medium-length tracks. An energetic rhythm section characterises opener “They Ain’t Got No Right,” with a killer bassline and gritty drumming. The tempo changes are a real asset to the sound, adding a more technical touch to the song structure. The distorted guitar and the effects-enriched vocals complete this interesting track, also thanks to a fine use of sound modulations. The instrumental sections enhance the band’s compositional and performing technique, managing to give the sound a personal imprint. In the second part, the band offers solo electric guitar cues and enveloping passages with more Psychedelic traits, keeping the sound incisive. After the catchy opener, the album’s shortest track “The Bad Batch,” which still exceeds three minutes, offers a more Hard Rock sound with a touch of Desert and Stoner. The rhythm section is slower and the bass is penetrating and makes the listener’s body vibrate. The guitar features well constructed riffs and solo inserts, while the vocals alternate well with the instrumental sections. A track that brings to mind the historical desert scene with a personal and modern touch from the band. “The Evil,” on the other hand, is the longest in duration, clocking in at over six minutes and once again offering a granitic rhythm section that displays the excellent malgam between bass and drums, always rich in tempo changes and refined passages. The guitar and atmospheres at times are darker than the previous ones, with slight hints of fresh and modern Stoner/Doom. The vocals are dynamic and expressive, fitting well into the musical context of the track, which is enriched by the instrumental cues and the continuous accelerations and tempo changes. Psychedelia, Stoner and Hard rock find the point of union in “782,” managing to incorporate elements of different genres and styles that characterise the band’s sound. The choral refrains are captivating, and then restart with darker, more distorted passages and a fine guitar solo insert in the middle section, accompanying an instrumental section to the track’s finale. The album ends with “Heartbreak Hotel,” which after an introductory part with the lead guitar develops a theme halfway between Stoner and Desert Rock. The vocal is piercing, while the accelerations bring to mind the classic sounds of the genre, whose added value is the continuous tempo changes, precise and refined. A mix of energy, more Psychedelic passages and interesting guitar work accompany us to the finale, leaving us wanting to listen to this EP again. A good work for the band that confirms and improves what was heard on the previous album, managing to offer a fresh and modern sound. The combination of Hard Rock but especially Stoner and Desert Rock is well constructed, full of tempo changes and stylistic solutions that make the tracklist enjoyable from start to finish. A recommended listen for lovers of Stoner and Desert sounds with forays into Heavy Rock, creating a good point of union between classic and modern.
Tracklist
01. They Ain’t Got No Right (05:30)
02. The Bad Batch (03:45)
03. The Evil (06:12)
04. 782 (04:45)
05. Heartbreak Hotel (05:58)
Lineup
Florian / Guitar and Vocals
Marco / Bass
Thomas / Drums
