Orthrelm

Listening to Orthrelm is like watching two master clockmakers build a cathedral in five minutes while the building is on fire. It is music stripped of all traditional rock comforts: there are no choruses, no slow builds, and no moments of repose. Instead, you get a relentless barrage of micro-riffs and staccato drum patterns that repeat with such mechanical precision they begin to feel like a religious ritual or a glitching software program.

What makes them truly distinctive is the 'dryness' of their sound. There is no reverb to hide behind and no wall of sound to soften the edges. Mick Barr's guitar tone is brittle and sharp, while Josh Blair's drumming is a masterclass in controlled chaos. They operate with a telepathic level of synchronization, executing sharp turns and rhythmic shifts at speeds that seem humanly impossible, creating a texture that is both dense and strangely transparent.

Newcomers should start with the album 'OV'. It is a single, massive track that serves as the ultimate test of endurance and focus. If you find the repetition hypnotic rather than exhausting, you have found your new favorite band. It is the perfect entry point for anyone who thinks they have heard the limits of what a guitar and drum duo can achieve.