SONG REVIEW: Ovtlier - "All I Need"
Ovtlier return with a somber yet massive sounding banger in “All I Need”
Written by JD Walker
Ovtlier are no strangers to finding success in the modern metal industry - boasting a monthly following of 50,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and having appeared in such news outlets as Revolver Magazine, Alternative Press, Loudwire, and ABC News, the group is riding a mountainous wave of success into their latest single, “All I Need”. The gritty yet emotional track does not disappoint as the song is able to blend somber, ethereal moments with brutal breakdowns and riffs for one amazing release.
The song opens with a bang as the driving yet dreary sounding intro riff sets the mood for the song from guitarists Kane Buckley and Nolan Hayes and bassist Paul Milne. The song takes inspiration from a multitude of genres, blending the sounds of nu metal and modern alternative rock seamlessly. The high energy song, heavily driven by drummer Mike Wilkinson, drops off for a minute as the first verse kicks in and leans primarily on Joey Arena’s vocals. The lyrical subject matter is dark and personal as Arena sings from the perspective of a son struggling with how he was treated by his father before the song kicks back in with an enormous chorus. The song continues to build until the intro riff comes back as a vicious breakdown before one final chorus at the climax of the song.
What truly drives the message of the song’s lyrics home is the accompanying video - it opens showing a preacher reiterating the concept of Hell and its potential occupants before an audience of parishoners while also showing that the holy man doesn’t practice what he preaches. Between shots of the band performing and cuts back to the storyline, the preacher is shown binge drinking, abusing his family, and eventually atoning for his sins by flailing himself in front of the Cross.
Ovtlier is one of those bands that never disappoints - their modern, larger-than-life sound appeals to the hearts and minds of tens of thousands of people worldwide who connect deeply with their music. The group isn’t afraid to show their hearts on their songs which benefits their sound heavily by adding an element of genuineness and emotion that tends to get lost by other groups on the same circuit. Ovtlier’s success is without a doubt deserved, and the band followed up their stellar set at Inkcarceration Festival with the incredible offering “All I Need”. Whether your taste is geared towards brutal riffs or lyrics that truly mean something, Ovtlier is the band for you.