Odyssey are a 3 Piece Stoner/Noise/Sludge Rock Band from Sweden
The members are:
Witold Östensson
Jesper Karlsson
Jonas Pedersen
Odyssey are a hard-rocking power trio who play an excellent blend of Stoner, Noise, and Sludge Rock with a great lo-fi garage vibe to their music.
These guys were featured on the blog back in March 2012 when I featured their excellent new single – “Wicked Witch”. The article got a very good response and struck a chord with many of you.
Well Odyssey have just released their superb debut album – “Abysmal Despair”. An 8 song and 39 minute of down and dirty Stoner/Noise/Sludge Rock riffs that will have you head-banging in no time at all.
Odyssey are getting a great reputation amongst us Stoner Rockers and it’s not hard to see why. This album just rocks in a very big way. It might not be the most sophisticated album you will hear this year. But it does have some of the most hard-rocking riffs to rival any great band.
The album gets down to business with the 4:41 minute opener – Pyramids which blends Stoner, Noise and Garage Rock with a Sludge Rock vibe that will kick your senses into touch. The track has a fantastic underlying bass guitar driving this song through.
Next up is probably the most Stoner Rock song of them all and probably my fave track – “Wicked Witch” – I love this song when I heard it back in March 2012. It shows what these guys do best. Playing high-energy lo-fi Stoner Rock riffs that will have you pumping your fists in the air in no time at all.
The vocals have a great straight to the point edge to them. There are no Hardcore based growls in sight at all. Just passionate vocals that are carried off with conviction and purpose.
“Abysmal Despair” is up next. This is a 5 minute blast of top-notch Sludge/Stoner Rock carnage. It gets extremely loud at times and showcases once again why I think very highly of these talented rockers.
Great vocals, lyrics and a sublime Sludge/Noise/Garage/Stoner Rock mish-mash of sounds that is near impossible to ignore now.
“Keloma” is the 4th track that Odyssey perform next. And by now the guys should have your full attention. It’s more of the same musical vibes they have already laid down but with added Punk Rock aggression thrown in for good measure.
Up next for your attention - “No Fucking Way” which has probably the best riff on this album around the 5 minute mark. A cool fuzz driven stoner rock riff that would go down a storm on the live stage.
The last 3 tracks “Wolfspit And Witches Breath”, “This Ship Is Sinkin” and “Darked” is where the album goes into heavy territory and possibly the best part of this superb album. This is where the band up their game and it pays off brilliantly. As the songs are full of distorted riffs with great vocals to match.
A brilliant end to an amazing album. Odyssey take the listener on a rollercoaster journey of thrills and spills and it pays off big time. This is a band that keep you on the edge of your seat with their take on all things Stoner Rock.
People might say it’s not the best produced album they have heard. But I feel the lo-fi stripped back garage rock vibe suits the band brilliantly well. It highlights what a proper band Odyssey are. Relying on true talent and not studio professional wizardry the mainstream pop monstrosities that is around at the moment.
As you can tell I am a massive fan of this band and I hope this is the sign of great things to come from this amazing power-trio. The world of Stoner/Sludge Rock needs bands like Odyssey. And proves once again that Sweden is one of the best countries flying the flag for Stoner Rock.
I feel Odyssey will be a band we will still be talking about in the years to come. “Abysmal Despair” shows that Odyssey are on the road to greatness. Give it a couple of more releases then these guys could become the next breakout act everyone will be wanting to see.
Brilliant. I urge you to buy this album now. You won’t be sorry. This is a band you need in your life right now.
Highly Recommended. Abysmal Despair is available on Transubstans Records/Record Heaven and from all good stockists now.
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