BY STEVE THIRIOT
Canadian Metalcore maestros, ONI, unleash a tempest of brutal yet harmonious chaos in their third studio album, "The Silver Line," released through Ironshore Records. After months of fevered anticipation fueled by teasing singles and a monumental tour, ONI ignites the Metalcore landscape, marking their territory with a blaze that is both destructive and illuminating.
From the onset, Jake Oni and his band plunge listeners into a sonic vortex, painting the skies with shadows and silver lines. The opening track, “Silhouette,” sets the tone, offering a symphony of intricate riffs and relentless percussion that beckon the listeners into ONI’s world.
The firestorm continues with “Spark,” featuring Sueco, blending aggressive growls with melodic interludes, an electric dance of shadows and light. It’s a tumultuous love affair between brutality and harmony, embodying the essence of what makes ONI a formidable name in Metalcore.
The collaboration with Kellin Quinn (Sleeping With Sirens) in "Underneath My Skin" is a masterstroke, with Quinn’s distinct vocals adding a layer of raw emotion to the unrelenting musical inferno. It’s a melodic scream into the void, echoing the shadows and illuminating the darkness.
“Silence In A Room of Lies,” featuring Jared Dines, is a monumental testament to ONI’s versatility, blending progressive elements with their signature brutal sound. It’s a chaotic symphony, a dance of demons and angels, resonating in the caverns of one’s soul.
The mid-album offering, “Cyanide,” is a toxic elixir of angelic voices and aggressive vocals with intricate instrumentals, an auditory representation of venom coursing through veins. It’s a brutal, unapologetic anthem, showcasing ONI’s prowess in crafting metalcore masterpieces.
“The Dread,” featuring Justin Hill (SikTh), is a sonic onslaught, a tidal wave of aggressive soundscapes crashing against the shores of melody. Hill’s contribution elevates the track, intertwining shadows and light in a brutal ballet.
“Aura,” the penultimate track, featuring Howard Jones (Light The Torch ex-Killswitch Engage) & Josh Gilbert (Spiritbox), is a multi-dimensional exploration of sound. It’s an opus of brutal harmonies, a confluence of voices and instruments crafting a tapestry of raw emotion and unbridled power.
“Armageddon,” featuring Michael Lessard (The Contortionist), is an apocalyptic serenade. It’s a crescendo of chaos and well… Armageddon. The brutality of this track mixed with eerie soundscapes delivers all the feels.
Closing the album, “Burns My Soul” is a fitting finale culminating all that has come before. A final bow to the raging inferno that is "The Silver Line."
"The Silver Line" is a brutal, unrelenting, yet harmonious masterpiece, a testament to ONI’s artistic evolution and indomitable presence in the metalcore arena. It’s a raging inferno of sonic artistry, a silver line in the dark sky of musical brilliance. The anticipation was not in vain; ONI has delivered an album that burns the soul and etches its mark in the annals of Metalcore history.
Album Drops Friday October 13th 2023