Hailing from Greece, Wothrosch started in 2018 but Odium is their first and only album, and what a scorcher to start of 2023.  We get 8 songs with one word titles and this guy appreciates that quite a lot.

Opening with “Child”, it’s immediately evident this is some doomy sludgy black metal.  Rather than having an intro or going into a blast beat, this is a creepy crawly, get-under-your-skin type of song.  It’s also monolithically heavy.  People seem to forget, yes black metal can be pretty darn heavy.  There are a few growls early on which bring in a death metal influence.  The double bass picks up speed and then a double pounding speed comes in and more blackened and pained screams.  The start and stop moments at the 3.30 section, which occurs earlier as well, have a polyrhythmic flair. There is a definite coldness to this band’s approach and it’s welcomed by this writer.  The ferocious double bass towards the end of the song is outstanding as a plethora of growls and screams are dually connected – it’s brutal.

“Tumor” is next and there are some double-pounding drums as well as start and stop blast beats with dissonant riffs.  Come to think of it the more and more I listen to this album there are some Immolation and Ulcerate influences as those dissonant guitar riffs take center stage.  So what does that mean for you, dear reader/listener?  It means this will not be the easiest of easy listening, because the band creates their own rhythmic patterns, which really do not follow a linear path.  I appreciate the challenging aspect of listening to this band because I pick up new melodies and sounds with each experience.

“Purge” is an interesting song.  Combining all the aspects of the above with some post-black metal moments this song starts with a crushing opening beat, with atmospheric guitar melodies.  The growl that comes in slides right into a groove section.  You could actually circle pit to this before the song gets slower than that groove start and stop doomy AF moment erupts again.  The growl over the double bass and guitar melodies make this such a wonderful moment.  The song erupts with a blast beat towards the end of the song hellbent on ripping your head off and taking it to the local basket ball court to play the game of horse, but instead of spelling out HORSE, in the game, you’re spelling out HEAD.

Odium’s production is excellent and while there is a coldness to the music the mix brings out all the nuances of the band.  With the influences of doom, death, dissonance, and polyrhythms creeping in with the black metal main ingredient, this album is a delight.   Wothrosch have created an original, and at times, frightening listening experience with Odium, because of the cavernous moments and atmosphere the band brings.  Couple this with a striking album cover and a truly original and cool AF band logo this band has it going on with this debut.  Absolutely killer debut – well done  Wothrosch!!

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