If the gothic sound was often geared towards the dark and mysterious, and the post-punk vibe more commonly one of energy and anthemics, then “Hermine,” the new single from Octavian Winters, hits the sweet spot between the two genres perfectly.
It takes a danceable, rock energy, a sound woven of propulsive drums, raw guitars and relentless basslines but then drapes all manner of less tangible shade and shadow across the sound, not least via Ria Aursjoen’s ability to deliver vocals that wander between whispered mystique and a sound so imploring that feels as if she is calling down the ancient gods.
And the reference points are as interesting as always. Lyrically, the song was inspired by Herman Hesse’s iconic Steppenwolf and its exploration of the often fragile and fragmented nature of human psyches. Musically, it started life as a sonic tribute to Geordie Walker before finding its own path and it isn’t hard to hear the sonic connection between Octavian Winters and Killing Joke, whether through Stephan Salit’s snake-like coils and intense shards of guitar, drummer Randy Gzebb’s metronomic momentum, or Jay Denton’s brutal bass lines.
“Hermine” is a reminder that although Octavian Winters often revel in darker, bleaker, and more ethereal sounds, when they choose to put the foot on the gas, they can out-rock any of the current wave of alt-rockers and post-punkers that you care to mention.
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