The unstoppable Jake Oni and his henchmen return with their most dynamic yet cohesive and focused work, representing a means to exorcise personal demons for anyone who listens and connects to the sound, the spirit and the stand taken by each song.
The creative evolution of the multifaceted Windsor, Canada-based Progressive Metalcore/Djent force known as ONI never ends. Always evolving, braving treacherous waters and searching for a distinctive light in the darkness, the band spearheaded by frontman Jake Oni, alongside Brandon White and Martin Andres on the guitars, Johnny DeAngelis on the xylosynth, Chase Bryant on bass and Joe Greulich on drums, is about to release their new full-length beast titled The Silver Line, the follow-up to their 2022 critically acclaimed album Loathing Light. Produced, mixed and mastered by the duo of Spiritbox bassist Josh Gilbert and Joe McQueen (As I Lay Dying, Light The Torch, Bad Wolves), and featuring an array of special guests including Kellin Quinn (Sleeping With Sirens) and Howard Jones (Light the Torch, Devil You Know, Killswitch Engage), The Silver Line is at once the most dynamic yet cohesive and focused work in the band’s burgeoning career, being therefore a must-listen for fans of Allegaeon, Oceans, Monuments, Killer Be Killed, Tallah and Alluvial, among several others.
The atmospheric and futuristic Silhouette will put you to bang your head nonstop to the metallic riffs by Brandon and Martin and the rumbling bass by Chase in a great display of modern-day Metalcore, with Jake leading his crew with his melodic and enraged vocals; followed by Spark, featuring pop-punk-resurgence star Sueco, another blast of ONI’s melodious Metalcore with Joe’s drums dictating the song’s pace while Johnny adds his share of electricity to the music with his xylosynth, with the song’s harsher vocals making it even more exciting. Then we have Underneath My Skin, featuring the aforementioned Kellin Quinn on vocals, where Jake and his ONI continue to blend metal sounds with atmospheric and electronic nuances, not to mention the solid vocal duo between Jake and Kellin, and it’s time to turn up the heat in Silence In A Room Of Lies, a neck-breaking, Djent-infused feast where Jake is joined by guest Jared Dines on vocals, always supported by the sick riffage by Brandon and Martin.
ONI’s modern-day fusion of Metalcore and Djent keeps hammering our heads in Cyanide, with Chase sounding menacing with his bass jabs, being tailored for admirers of the genre; and there’s no sign of Jake & Co. slowing down at all in The Dread, featuring vocalist Justin Hill, where they continue their headbanging feast with another round of their incendiary riffs and metallic bass lines, plus of course the wicked xylosynth by Johnny. Then featuring renowned bassist Josh Gilbert and vocalist Howard Jones, Aura is a born-to-be-a-hit on any rock and metal radio, with Jake and Howard sounding insane on vocals throughout the entire song, boosted by the massive beats by Joe, whereas Armageddon, featuring Michael Lessard on vocals, follows the same pattern as the rest of the album, bringing the band’s Metalcore sound and their undeniable energy. It could have been a little more dynamic and fresher, or different than its predecessors, though. And closing the album we’re treated to Burns My Soul, inspiring us all to jump up and down with Jake while Brandon and Martin fire sheer electricity from their guitars.
In a nutshell, The Silver Line ups the ante once more, adding another full-length chapter to ONI’s ever-expanding songbook, representing a means to exorcise personal demons for anyone who listens and connects to the sound, the spirit and the stand taken by the songs, being as much for the listener as it is for Jake. “Music is such a gift,” said Jake thoughtfully. “If you can make music, and people respond to it? I’ve learned not to take that for granted. Count your blessings because the opportunity to make music is such a great one. We should always be grateful. Because it’s the coolest job anyone could do.” Hence, you can show Jake how much you love the music by ONI by following the band on Facebook and on Instagram, by subscribing to their YouTube channel, by streaming all of their creations on Spotify, and by purchasing a copy of The Silver Line by clicking HERE. The Silver Line is undoubtedly ONI’s strongest effort since the band’s inception in 2014, and if you give them a chance I’m sure you’ll get addicted to their music and keep spinning the album while fighting your inner demons alongside one of the rising names of the Canadian Metalcore and Djent scene.
Best moments of the album: Spark, Silence In A Room Of Lies and Aura.
Worst moments of the album: Armageddon.
Released in 2023 Ironshore Records
Track listing
1. Silhouette 3:13
2. Spark 3:07
3. Underneath My Skin 2:53
4. Silence In A Room Of Lies 3:15
5. Cyanide 2:51
6. The Dread 3:11
7. Aura 3:32
8. Armageddon 3:09
9. Burns My Soul 3:47
Band members
Jake Oni – vocals
Brandon White – guitars
Martin Andres – guitars
Johnny DeAngelis – xylosynth
Chase Bryant – bass
Joe Greulich – drums
Guest musicians
Sueco – vocals on “Spark”
Kellin Quinn – vocals on “Underneath My Skin”
Justin Hill – vocals on “The Dread”
Josh Gilbert – bass on “Aura”
Howard Jones – vocals on “Aura”
Michael Lessard – vocals on “Armageddon”
Jared Dines – vocals on “Silence In A Room Of Lies”
THE HEADBANGING MOOSE 