Art by Brent Elliot White (Megadeth, Trivium, Job For A Cowboy)
Technical progressive metal band Oni recently released their heavy-hitting single « Barn Burner », and today you can watch xylosynth player Johnny D shred through the track on his unique instrument – with two mallets in each hand! Check out what Revolver Magazine describes as « pyrotechnic solos on xylosynth » here via MetalInjection.net:
ONI's Xylosynth Player Shreds Through "Barnburner" – This Is So Br00tal
Johnny D explains the design and sound of his unique instrument: « Everyone is always asking me at our shows, ‘what the hell is a xylosynth?’, so I’m glad that our fans can finally see the instrument demonstrated clearly. It’s definitely built and played like a xylophone, but it’s essentially a traditional synthesizer which allows me to play with a wide range of sound options. Everything from solo/lead parts to more textured stuff, like when I’m riffing with the guitars. This ‘Barn Burner’ video is a really good example of what I bring to the table in Oni. »
Expect more play-through videos coming soon from Oni!
Earlier this fall, Oni announced the upcoming release of their debut album, Ironshore, set to hit stores on Black Friday, November 25th via Blacklight Media/Metal Blade Records. You can pre-order the album now via metalblade.com/oni. For another preview of Ironshore, the video for the first single, « Eternal Recurrence« , can be viewed at
With their influences rooted in progressive metal, Oni’s sound can be compared to the genre’s heavy hitters – The Human Abstract, Protest The Hero and Between The Buried And Me – yet they remain truly unique. With Jake Oni handling vocal duties, Martin Andres and Brandon White on guitar, Chase Bryant on bass and Joe Greulich on drums, they are also perhaps the first metal band to feature a xylosynth player, Johnny D, which adds an intriguing dynamic to the nine tracks found on Ironshore. Produced by Josh Wilbur (Lamb Of God, Gojira), Ironshore takes listeners on an absorbing ride that provides ample opportunity for head-banging, singing along and deep introspection. On the album track « The Only Cure », Lamb Of God vocalist Randy Blythe also contributes his inimitable style – resulting in one of the record’s heaviest moments.
Ironshore track-listing:
- Barn Burner
- Eternal Recurrence
- The Only Cure (featuring Randy Blythe of Lamb of God)
- The Science
- Spawn and Feed
- Chasing Ecstasy
- Kanvas
- Thrive
- Coast to Coast
Later this month, Oni will join the « I Worship Chaos » tour, featuring headliners Children of Bodom and special guests Abbath and Exmortus. See below for all dates!
Oni tour dates
w/ Exmortus
Nov. 17 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Thunder Alley
Nov. 18 – Kansas City, MO @ The Riot Room
Nov. 19 – St. Louis, MO @ Fubar
Nov. 20 – Indianapolis, IN @ 5th Quarter
Nov. 21 – Westland, MI @ The Token Lounge
Oni « I Worship Chaos Tour » dates
w/ Children Of Bodom, Abbath & Exmortus
Nov. 23 – Quebec City, QC @ L’Imperial Bell
Nov. 24 – Montreal, QC @ Metropolis
Nov. 25 – Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
Nov. 26 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
Nov. 28 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
Nov. 29 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave – Eagles Ballroom
Nov. 30 – Minneapolis, MN @ Mill City Nights
Dec. 2 – Denver, CO @ The Summit Music Hall
Dec. 3 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
Dec. 5 – San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
Dec. 6 – Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory
Dec. 7 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Pressroom
Dec. 9 – Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey Live!
Dec. 10 – San Antonio, TX @ The Aztec Theater
Dec. 11 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues
Dec. 13 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade (Heaven)
Dec. 14 – Charlotte, NC @ Neighborhood Theatre
Dec. 16 – Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage
Dec. 17 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of the Living Arts
Dec. 18 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
Oni online:
https://facebook.com/theoniband