OARThe Blood You Crave (Single)

Starting with a touch of reverb, The Blood You Crave–the new single from Sydney post black metal outfit OAR–soon grabs you by the short and curlies and twists and twists until … well, I’m sure some of you know where this is going.

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Taken from the band’s upcoming debut full length of the same name, which will be released on January 7, The Blood You Crave further showcases OAR’s descent into heavier territory since their last EP Sect Burner in 2018.

Not that it sounds like OAR are a band who have ever been unsure of their musical identity. And if I did think that by the sounds of this song, I doubt I would say that to their face anytime soon. With the full on metal assault relenting to a slow crawl at about the 3-minute mark, I just looked at the running time, thinking that was an odd time to pull the reign, but notice now that The Blood You Crave is only just warming into its 11 minute plus running time! Not that I’m complaining. I love being bludgeoned to death sonically.

The Blood You Crave is a sweeping and epic track that refuses to be pinned into one easily identifiable genre.

In the modern age of disassociation it is a brave move by OAR to release such a lengthy single, but they have obviously given thought to this with the pace of the song going through several modes of metalness, refusing to allow time for over analysis or distraction to kick in. Just when you think you might possibly be able to breath again, The Blood You Crave once more tightens its grip in a suffocating pose that doesn’t hurt nearly as much as it should. You often hear the term “journey” bandied about with music, but on this occasion that is precisely what The Blood You Crave does. The Blood You Crave is a sweeping (if that term applies to black metal) and epic track that refuses to be pinned into one easily identifiable genre. Which is great!

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