Smote Reverser

Oh Sees - Smote Reverser
Critic Score
Based on 23 reviews
2018 Ratings: #375 / 890
User Score
Based on 267 ratings
2018 Rank: #391
Liked by 18 people
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CRITIC REVIEWS

90
AllMusic

2018's Smote Reverser feels like the culmination of all the experimentation the band has undertaken over the previous few years, the final steps of Dwyer's ascent to guitar genius, and the kind of album whose deep mysteries will keep people buzzing for years.

85
Paste
It’s cosmic, it’s mythic, it’s sprawling, it’s so acid-jazz-meets prog-rock that the garage-psych label seems like a flaccid insult at this point.
83
A.V. Club
The longer Oh Sees go, the more wicked they get.
80
Clash
‘Smote Receiver’ is what Can, Deep Purple or King Crimson would sound like if they came out 2018. Loud, hypnotic, vitriolic solos, mordant melodies with biting lyrics. It’s everything we’ve come to expect, and I can’t wait to hear the next Oh Sees instalment later in the year.
80
Dork
Yet another first class album from a band that continues their musical odyssey through the stranger reaches of the universe without feeling the need to merely repeat what has come before.
80
The Skinny

The spectacular glowing monster looming above an orgy of fiery destruction on the cover of Smote Reverser looks like it erupted from the spirit visions of the late great elven king Ronnie James Dio himself. Sprawling, magnificent, dangerous and fantastical; this beast is – however extraordinary – an apt representation of the 11-song extravaganza it adorns here.

80
The Line of Best Fit

Picking up from where they left off with last year’s Orc, Smote Reverser is linked by its very inability to sound like a grander project. Less thematic or cohesive than other records, Smote Reverser is, quite deliberately, a record that sounds like an endless stream-of-consciousness, with no underlying nucleus that pulls it all together.

80
Drowned in Sound

By the time of Smote Reverser's finale 'Beat Quest', it's plain difficult to not be impressed by this insanely talented band yet again – may their reign long continue.

76
Pitchfork
On their new record, the California group remain deliriously unhinged but indulge in prog-metal fantasies.
70
Rolling Stone

The band’s 21st album swerves its own weird way through Sixties and Seventies rock.

70
Northern Transmissions
Even with some fun jazz mixed into their heavy rock, they tend to overindulge themselves more than they give listeners moments to come back for.
70
Spectrum Culture

New album Smote Reverser stretches all these sounds to Dwyer’s furthest explorations yet, tying in elements of jazz, metal and prog for an ambitious, if occasionally overwrought epic (note: album cover is accurate).

65
The 405

By no means does Smote Reverser signal a downward trajectory for Oh Sees. It’s just a reminder of how much better they are when working at their full potential.

63
GIGsoup

Few of the riffs grab you, less stands out, but the effort put in makes for something to admire.

60
Loud and Quiet
Oh Sees are a well-oiled machine, but that machine looks more like a conveyor belt with each release.
60
Mojo

Occasionally, the album threatens to go Spinal Tap-ish ... But when Dwyer steeps the prog in garage frenzy, the pot boils.

60
The Needle Drop

Though it's a pretty solid work of modern psych, Smote Reverser isn't the wall-to-wall excitement that Oh Sees' last few albums have been.

60
NME
Oh Sees’ mastermind may still put the rest of the world to shame with his tireless explorations of sound, but even he has proven that sometimes it’s good to have a little edit. Strip away the excessive noodling and ‘Smote Reverser’ could be up there as one of Dwyer’s best in recent years. As it is, it’s good, but not as consistently great as we’ve come to expect from him.
R1v3r__
75

idk what the fuck sorta thing this is but DAYMM

WhatTheFunk
61

First of all, I would like to talk about the cover art. Frankly, it was a huge slap in my face. Oh Sees has clearly released the artwork of 2018. With a dark and apocalyptic cover and a very fast single ready to destroy your psyche ("Overthrown"), John Dwyer makes believe his fans that he will even more harden the sound of his new entity Oh Sees (formerly Thee Oh Sees). But no, John and his band will not do Metal on this "Smote Reverser", but they will continue in their ... read more

FunkyBlood9696
69

Calling this a Garage Punk record is a huge stretch, as this is more of a Psychidelic Rock and Krautrock project more than anything, and as a Psychidelic Rock and Krautrock album, it's pretty good, but I can't help but think that a good chunk of this record could've been a lot better, if it was actually going for something greater than being fine to put on in the background and not much else
Because in its current state, this album is a pretty relaxing experience with a few tracks that try to ... read more

FunkyBlood9696
69

Calling this a Garage Punk record is a huge stretch, as this is more of a Psychidelic Rock and Krautrock project more than anything, and as a Psychidelic Rock and Krautrock album, it's pretty good, but I can't help but think that a good chunk of this record could've been a lot better, if it was actually going for something greater than being fine to put on in the background and not much else
Because in its current state, this album is a pretty relaxing experience with a few tracks that try to ... read more

Mugweld
83

osees marathon will not end today

probably the osees album where they jam out the most. the whole album has a nice feel and the dungeons and dragons theme is engaging. the only weakness is that long track in the middle of the album which fucks with the pacing in my opinion. overall this ones very groovy and one of my favourites.

69

it's just kind of alright

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Track List

1Sentient Oona
5:34
83
2Enrique El Cobrador
3:53
81
3C
4:21
80
4Overthrown
2:41
89
5Last Peace
7:41
82
6Moon Bog
4:56
85
7Anthemic Aggressor
12:13
62
8Abysmal Urn
3:25
81
9Nail House Needle Boys
4:40
79
10Flies Bump Against the Glass
4:25
67
11Beat Quest
6:04
81
Total Length: 59 minutes

Year End Lists

#10/Rough Trade
#22/Drift
#24/MOJO
#38/Piccadilly Records
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Added on: May 21, 2018