Release Date April 24th, 2026
Format Digital
Genre AltDoom Metal
Origin USA
the OWLiNG is a Los Angeles duo formed by vocalist and guitarist KaL MichaeL alongside drummer Art Quanstrom. After releasing their debut album “You Don’t Bow You Will Learn” only a few months earlier, they quickly returned with new material that further expands their cinematic take on doom and alternative metal. Their sound takes inspiration from Black Sabbath, Faith No More, Melvins, Alice In Chains and Rage Against The Machine, although they do not simply stack influences on top of each other.
There is an obvious intention to merge slow moving heaviness with a theatrical atmosphere and a more introspective side. Their growing activity on the live circuit, appearances at SXSW and collaborations
There is an obvious intention to merge slow moving heaviness with a theatrical atmosphere and a more introspective side. Their growing activity on the live circuit, appearances at SXSW and collaborations around visual media show a band trying to build a complete artistic package beyond recordings alone. Even with only two members, the OWLiNG aims for a broad sonic palette that combines dark riffs, melodic passages and a strong emotional angle that separates them from many current retro minded acts.
“Intravenous Flow” is a mixed experience that contains some interesting ideas alongside material that struggles to maintain momentum. The EP has a personal character and that sincerity helps several moments resonate, especially when the band focuses on mood instead of trying to expand every composition into something larger than necessary. The production is warm and organic, although the arrangements occasionally wander and lose focus. There is a cinematic ambition throughout the release and sometimes it pays off, particularly when the melodies emerge from the darker sections. On the other hand, the songwriting can become overly stretched and some transitions lack impact, making parts of the EP less engaging than they should be. The emotional content is one of its strengths, touching on loss, longing and human vulnerability without becoming melodramatic.
The cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Mama, I’m Coming Home” is respectful, though it does not leave a lasting impression compared to the original. As a whole, “Intravenous Flow” sits somewhere between a companion release and a testing ground for future ideas. There are moments that suggest the band has something worthwhile to build on, though the material here does not consistently reach the same level. Fans of atmospheric doom mixed with 90s alternative influences may find enough substance to revisit, but this EP also exposes areas where sharper editing and more focused songwriting would have strengthened the final result.
|6.5
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