What names come to mind when you think of all female outfits from the Washington D.C. area? If we’re talking the ’80s, it’s definitely Fire Party. The ’90s brought us the criminally overlooked Slant 6. Now let’s familiarize ourselves with The OSYX, who certainly bring the gritty rock ‘n’ roll influence of the aforementioned outfits to their rugged yet harmonic version of post-punk on this debut album.
“Carry It With Me” starts the listen with dense fuzz and strong percussion on the hypnotic and tumultuous rocker, and “Six Feet Under” follows with gritty rhythm as the vocals soar alongside rigid post-punk influences. Side A concludes with the pretty vocals of “Bicoastal,” where the women take a break from loud and full to a barer setting, while “Dog Fight” is largely instrumental, weaving organs and firm guitars into the angular instrumentation.
Side B is just three tunes, but all are worth flipping over the record. “Scavengers” leads with a unique mix of orchestral ideas amid a grungy delivery, and “Diving Intervention” complements the listen with gripping power and melody – a common theme in their formula. “Bad Omen” ends the LP with chunky guitars and some of the most versatile singing, as The OSYX explores plenty of textures and ideas on the six-minute exit.
The OSYX is armed with three vocalists and plenty of varied instrumentation in their arsenal; even though there’s a consistent guitar crunch present here, there are also cello, banjo, and violin on hand, and the sounds of the ’60s are touched on, as are several decades after that.
With their unwavering DIY and punk ethics as well as their strong sense of community, if Fugazi were still active today, I have to imagine The OSYX would be an ideal choice as an opener; this is thinking person’s music, music with a message that’s potent, dynamic, and effective.
