OSI AND THE JUPITER
Stave

Osi and the Jupiter`s first full-length "Halls Of The Wolf" explores neo-folk with atmospheric acoustic hymns, bluesy, dark and eerie. From its birth in 2015, the focus of the project has been on the spiritual connection between nature and the will of the old Gods – channeled through various representations of life, death, and rebirth, this connection speaks through these musical creations, resonating as wordless tributes to these nebulous yet fundamental concepts. 

Helmed by vocalist multi-instrumentalist Sean Kratz, OSI AND THE JUPITER first emerged from its cocoon in 2016 with the debut album Halls of the Wolf. Led by the ever-poignant, goosebump-inducing cello work of co-conspirator Kakophonix, the album set forth the band's aesthetic, which would come to even fuller fruition the next year with Uthuling Hyl, released by current label home EISENWALD. Not surprisingly, Uthuling Hyl became many people's introduction to OSI AND THE JUPITER, and garnered the group favorable comparisons to Warduna, Forndom, Of the Wand and the Moon, Sonne Hagal, and Vàli among others - esteemed company, to be sure.

However, OSI AND THE JUPITER are, by comparison, an American entity, which imbues their creations with a strange and totally unique disconnect from the Old Europa similarly channeled by those aforementioned contemporaries. There exists within their creative sphere a distant yet psychically strong conduit to the lore and traditions of the ancients - a veritable bloodline that empowers Kratz and Kakophonix. A surer-footed suggestion of such came with the Grå Hest 7 this past August, and now fully blossoms with the band's masterful third album, Nordlige Rúnaskog. Quite possibly the most perfect music for autumnal fires and the dying of summer's light, here do OSI AND THE JUPITER weave wistful ruminations on old days, The Old Ways, and the ways in which the turning of the seasons mark our lives. It's every inch the superior to the group's preceding recordings, and yet no marked changes have occurred within this iron-girded aesthetic.

Formed in 2016, Osi and the Jupiter has been steadily crafting a unique sound that blends Nordic folk traditions with the evocative storytelling of Americana. Rooted in acoustic instrumentation, their music features intricate melodies and soulful vocals that resonate deeply with listeners. The band has toured the US and Europe and contributed music to the Vikings series on Netflix, further cementing their connection to Norse mythology.

Larvatus marks a return to the band’s earlier, more mystical sound, evoking the haunting qualities of albums like Uthuling Hyl and Nordlige Runaskog. This album, which began taking shape during the uncertain years of 2020 and 2021, reflects the emotional turbulence of the pandemic. Despite the chaos surrounding its creation, Larvatus is a demonstration of resilience and its introspective and contemplative nature offering a sense of refuge amid a world in flux.

In honour of this more personal wellspring of inspiration, Osi and the Jupiter’s sound has evolved from the ambient soundscapes of yore into more direct expressions of yearning. Voice, ambient synth drones, acoustic guitar and cello underpin these delicate homage’s to a mysterious, myth-laden region. Kratz’s heartfelt, plaintive vocals speak openly of surroundings that clearly resonate deep within. Gentle strummed melodies support these tales, whilst the ever-inventive cello melodies of Kakophonix reach onwards to distant places as yet unseen.

‘They Ride Through the Sky on Horse Drawn Chariots’ sets the tone with dramatic swells, leading the listener by the hand into these new realms. ‘Appalachia‘ follows, replete with yearning vocals and delicate, countrified picking. ‘The Binding Will of Mountains’ closes this unique collection of songs with a twelve-minute journey throughout the myriad soundscapes that Osi and the Jupiter have explored throughout their existence.