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Once a hotbed for UK hardcore, Kent has gotten gloomier and given birth to OHHMS, a doomy five-piece whose debut LP offers more than just Sabbath worship. Sure, Tony Iommi might give a thumbs-up to The Hierophant’s abhorrent riffing… but it’s 22 minutes long and starts like latter-day Swans. OHHMS feast from a range of influences; The Hanged Man briefly spurts tech-metal alongside that crushing fun you get with Orange Goblin as Paul Waller’s bellows seal the sludgy deal. The World’s cry of ‘It’s not a shot in the dark, not a flame, not a spark’ is the coolest thing since Red Fang; The Magician wrecks with Mastodon-shaped blows, Chainy Rabbit’s basswork bedazzling the brain amid the staccato opening and half-time segments that smack you where it feels good. The highlight comes with post-rocky ballad The Lovers. Having Paul parry Sienna-Janae Holihan’s honey-spattered guest vocals – topped off with soloing reminiscent of Rivers Cuomo being inconsolably upset – isn’t exactly stoner rock 101. Scary yet serene, The Fool’s progressive doom matches OHHMS’ preliminary EPs and then some.

Alec is a longtime contributor with first-class BA Honours in English with Creative Writing, and has worked for Metal Hammer since 2014. Over the years, he's written for Noisey, Stereoboard, uDiscoverMusic, and the good ship Hammer, interviewing major bands like Slipknot, Rammstein, and Tenacious D (plus some black metal bands your cool uncle might know). He's read Ulysses thrice, and it got worse each time.