ONI | LIVE PREVIEW
The Scene Club, Swansea, Mon 23 Jan
The new year has already brought exciting rumours and news of shows set to keep the music enthusiasts content until December. The Canadian sextet known as ONI, however, are already revving their mighty metal engine to hit Welsh shores by late January, bringing with them their new album, Ironshore. Buzz found a moment to chat with Jake and Chase of the progressive metal hard-hitters, ready to discuss the ins and outs of their time in the UK and the depths of their musical creation.
Buzz: For those who do not already know, the word ‘ONI’ is not simply a cluster of cool sounding letters. Where did the initial interest come from for the world of evil entities and Japanese folklore?
Jake: An Oni is a malevolent shape-shifting demon. I thought it was a good name for our style of music.
ONI’s intense guitar sweeping and blistering pedal/fill work questions how ‘progressive’ is in the title of your subgenre, rather than tech, metalcore or even deathcore. Do you think the proliferation of subgenres over the last few years has slightly diluted how people interpret a style of playing – or do you think there is still room for more?
Jake: Our influences are all over the place. We don’t really listen to one style of music so our music doesn’t really fall into any one genre or subgenre. Our style is a blend of a bunch of different types of metal.
So your debut album Ironshore was released in November. I heard that the multiverse and some crazy acid trips are mentioned among other topics; would you say the lyricism is quite a natural flow for you or is it something that takes serious deliberation?
Jake: It’s pretty natural. The subject matter of the songs kind of goes all over the place. We don’t really have one theme through the record.
Political opinions and the anarchistic mantra of fighting the system has become dominant in a lot of metal bands material recently, has ONI ever considered voicing what they think on the system?
Jake: Our lyrics are specifically written in a way that’s open to interpretation but I write about that sort of stuff all the time.
Does everyone have any big plans prepped for 2016’s send off?
Jake: No big plans. Just preparing to start tour next year with our friends in Devil You Know.
You’re also coming through the UK in January with Devil You Know. Any locations in particular you’re looking forward to tearing up?
Jake: I am really looking forward to playing in London. We have some friends there who will be coming to the show so that one will be a lot of fun.
Are the rest of 2017’s arrangements set to keep you away from Canada for a good while?
Jake: Nothing we can announce just yet but our album just came out so we plan to be on tour most of 2017. Also looking forward to doing some writing this year.
Do you have any amusing or career-changing memories you often look back on that have really stuck in your memory through your time as a group?
Chase: Working with Josh Wilbur was a career changing moment for us all, there was a growth and change in all of us that came from his experience and guidance. Another thing that comes to mind is snorkelling and island hangs with [Lamb Of God frontman] Randy Blythe. Sharing fun and humbling experiences with one of our idols left a huge impression on all of us, he is a stand-up example of how to stay humble and down to earth no matter where your career takes you.
Concluding on a few words of guidance for any bands still struggling, what is the best advice you have ever been given that has guided you to where you currently are as a band?
Chase: Stay focused, driven, humble and unafraid to take leaps of faith. Establish a vision and stay true to it: mission is vision applied! Don’t compromise your creative integrity but keep an open mind to your surroundings and advice from those that have been there and back again. “You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore” – Christopher Columbus
ONI reach the Welsh seaside city of Swansea on Mon 23 Jan with Devil You Know. Tickets: £12.50. Info: www.thesceneclub.co.uk
words NATHAN ROACH photos HRISTO SHINDOV