Review by Felix on September 10, 2019.

Some metal bands use EPs for (mainly strange) experiments and the metallic punks of OHL seem to think that this is a good idea. Adrenalin, the title track of this EP, has nothing in common with the usual approach of the Teutonic veterans. It's a melancholic track which would fit very well in a smoky bar at midnight. The bass guitar delivers the melody, the guitars seem to be borrowed by an average ska band. Deutscher W. presents philosophical lines and asks himself where the sun will sink on his last day. Well, probably in the West, but who knows? All in all, this might be an acceptable out-of-the-box song, but another example of their high-speed metal punk bastards would have been much better.

Nevertheless, I am happy that one of the 500 copies - exactly number 167 - has found its way into my flat, because the B side features the real OHL. Pretty fast rhythms, sharp guitars, clear contours and conventional song patterns deliver the real adrenaline. Partly menacing lines meet the well-hung dark scenarios of Deutscher W.'s lyrics. In particular "Ihr seid der Feind" shows the typical OHL way of proceeding in a very strong way. This song, as well as the closer, deals with the radical part of the Islam and this is still a delicate topic for a German band. But OHL have always made their point of view almost painfully clear and so it is only logical that the first track on the B side also deals with religious confusion.

In accordance with the last full-lengths, the sound relies on clarity, pressure and directness. OHL have found their sonic design and they know that it does not make sense to change the best. So, everything is fine with the second part of the EP? Well, honestly speaking I miss a song one can find on YouTube which originates from the recording session for Der Feind meines Feindes. Too bad that they ignored this song about Turkish propaganda again... On the other hand, this vinyl remains Erdogan-free - and this guy makes much bigger experiments with his country than all metal bands have ever done.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Review by Lawrence Stillman on October 9, 2024.

This is certainly a surprise, a melodeath/trance record that does not have any influences from metalcore, but there are some non-metal influences that can be found here, namely the J-Pop-sounding passages that can be found throughout the album that give it a very sunny, warm sound that is very unique while not losing its melodeath roots.

Lekphjunokia is a solo project from Japan led by a guy named 靄川 (not gonna pronounce that) who is a newcomer to the scene. While a majority of his releases have some metalcore sounds and elements that warrant their metalcore tag, this album does not have any of that and has an approach that can be described as melodeath-trance pop. While this combination can be a turn-off for many people, it can also be an acquired taste for others. It has your usual J-Pop and trance elements like vocaloid vocals (mainly to simulate female vocals to contrast the sole member's growls) and poppy synths, but it also has proper melodeath riffing and sometimes black metal tremolo riffs that sound closer to Alcest than anything else. As a result, the album often alternates between trance-driven melodeath similar to Blood Stain Child without the metalcore elements and a sound that is similar to Alcest except it has synths and melodic death metal riffs.

The production here is very good for what is supposed to be a self-release album; every instrument here sounds very balanced, and no one is overshadowing the rest. You can immediately tell which instruments were taken away the moment they were removed, and it is quite surprising considering I was expecting something more raw and unrefined. The bass guitar here is a delight to listen to; it constantly reminds you of its presence with its grindy tone and occasionally disappears to alter the tone of the song significantly. I also like how the guitar sounds radically different depending on the song. One of the examples here is the song '1998', where the guitars gain a more blackgaze (aka very piercing, reverb-heavy) sound while the rest of the songs have a more muted and clearer sound.

This is definitely for fans of Blood Stain Child and those who want something more electronic-oriented but are sick of how metalcore elements just keep ruining great ideas like electronic melodeath. Oh well, I hope this review here helps someone find the electronic melodeath they have been looking for and brightens their day.

Highlights: 'Our Finality', '1998'

Rating: 9.1 out of 10