Soaring sonic soundscapes, a satisfying blend of Progressive and Post-Metal, cultivated in a modern, crisp production that is as immersive as it is immediate. The debut release from French duo Thibaud Lépicier [Guitar, Bass, Additional Production] and drummer David Annenkoff hits a nerve that is all good.
Ølyp – I(m)MORTAL
Release Date: 25 September 2026
Words: Paul Hutchings
This is an outfit that has literally fallen into my inbox and struck the right spot. My journey through Post-Rock and Post-Metal in the past few years has been intense, and in Ølyp we are presented with a band that would sound ideal at Arctangent or Dunk! Fest.
Instrumental music must always have the power to capture the messages held within. The absence of lyrics means the music must really forge the story.
Ølyp explore humanity’s fractured relationship with nature, and although this album is a fiery burst, there is no doubting that there is also a melancholic feel to many parts of the record.
It is not at all surprising to trace the band’s early origins to the fjords of Norway, for it is at times as emotive and haunting as that country.
Ølyp may be a duo, but their cinematic approach is fully enhanced by an ensemble of guest musicians, including violinists Pauline Henric and Zoé Sallefranque, violist Sylvain Rullier, and cellist Eugénie Ursch. Songs such as Solace are impressive, a kaleidoscope of sounds that entwines the listener to places where the meanings behind the music can be explored.
There is plenty of heft in opener The Human Error, which strains at the leash with punishing riffs and thundering drums. The chopping work on 797 is in stark contrast, with a more abrasive delivery which is both aggressive and technically precise. Even on these two opening tracks, you can get the feel for what the band has to say. It is modern but without the overkill production and huge breakdowns that often damage newer soundings.
Throughout the album, there are shifts from crushing intensity to more beautiful contemplation. It is what makes this album interesting and enjoyable. Intricate passages that would sit well on an album by Opeth switch with gargantuan cascades of riffage that explode and burst in a sludgy doom broth. Then the band will hit another two gears and erupt into a chaotic frenzy.
This is an album that would sit well with purveyors of The Ocean, Russian Circles, the power of Psychonaut or Night Verses.
A compelling combination of technicality, sophistication and raw power, all overlaid by emotion that can hit you in the feels. A worthy addition to the ever-expanding selection of excellence emerging in the latter half of 2026.
Ølyp release I(m)MORTAL on 25 September 2026 via Klonosphere Records/Season of Mist. For more details, visit the band on Bandcamp.
