Norway’s Octohawk fuse filthy lead-heavy riffs and explosive rhythms with synth-led atmospheres in a sludgy metal sound that they describe as “heavy, atmospheric and progressive.”
The band was formed in 2020, but its members have played together in various projects since the late 2000s, including the band Mammüth. After several years of playing different styles of music, it all came together with the direction and vision of Octohawk.
On the sound they’ve crafted, the band told us: “We’d describe it as heavy and immersive music, rooted in sludge and stoner metal, but with progressive elements. The sound is raw and organic, but also detailed, with layers that become clearer the more you listen.”
Our latest taste of this is the pretty epic Make It On The Crust, which was released last month. It opens up with pulsing synth notes joined by building instrumentals, including a low-tuned stabbing guitar that gives way to echoey opening vocals. The atmosphere builds with rolling drums dropping into a menacing stabbing riff and more intense vocals. Deliciously edgy vocals end with a big cry then a driving riff leads us into a huge chorus “The soil beneath my feet reminds me of my own insignificance, Oh meaningless and unconceivable, The crust I walk is the foundation of my very own being, But we endure, unbroken, unbent and unyielding.”
The heavy guitars and a cool spinning lick loop us into an intense verse with little guitar and string flurries creeping in as the atmosphere builds. The pace suddenly slows, before gradually building with intense rolling drums, gruff vocals and layered instrumentals ending with a driving riff and a delicious noodling guitar solo. That tees up a powerful chorus and a big outro with looping guitars and orchestral elements under heavy vocals.
On the track, they told us: “The reception has been very positive so far. We’ve gotten a lot of good feedback, which is really motivating for us. Make It On The Crust represents our sound well, with heavy riffs, strong grooves, and more open and atmospheric parts. If you haven’t listened yet, you can expect both intensity and dynamics, with a mix of heaviness and melody.
That track follows on from the band’s album Determinist, which was released in 2024. The album is packed with progressive metal goodness like the superb Quantum Age, which features a filthy opening riff, the lively opening track Arcane Dawn and the feisty Momentum, which you can check out in the lyric video below. And there’s plenty more music to get stuck into, including their 2021 debut album Animist.
The Octohawk sound draws influence from artists who combine heaviness with depth and complexity, including the likes of Mastodon and The Ocean.
And on what inspires them to write music, the band explained: “Our music is influenced by many different kinds of heavy music, from classic stoner and doom to more modern progressive metal. Lyrically and musically, we’re often inspired by introspection, existential thoughts, nature, and the relationship between humans and the world around us. We want the music to feel both emotional and physical.”
There’s plenty more to come from Octohawk this year, with the band working on new material and, intriguingly, “different creative projects.”
And they added: “Octohawk is about honesty and connection. We want to create music that feels real and meaningful, both on record and live. We really appreciate everyone who listens, shares, and supports us, and we encourage people to follow us on social media and streaming platforms to stay updated.”
You can follow Octohawk on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and check out their music on Spotify, Bandcamp, Apple Music, Deezer and YouTube.
Listen to Octohawk and more new metal on our Spotify playlists GigRadar Core and GigRadar Metal
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