One of my favorite things about the state of the music scene right now, including the heavier corners we pay most attention to, is the diversity within it. It seems like every week I’m struck by yet another project that introduces me to something completely unfamiliar in sound, energy, or both. It’s awesome. To that end, Lying Beside You was the entry point to the Ohpen Ahrms project for me back in March, and I took to their heavy progressive rock identity pretty damn quickly. Recorded between 2021 and 2023, you can feel some of the tension of the recent world translated in these passages. It’s thoughtful, and stylistically it brings plenty of shoegaze and post-rock leanings in its overall weight. And it is heavy, to be very clear. Simply put, there is a lot of appreciate in Lying Beside You. It’s a super enjoyable listen start to finish, and it’s complex in a way that asks for some focus and makes it hard to put down listen after listen. So, to help familiarize us with Ohpen Ahrms more, and introduce more of the context around this album, Alan Strathmann (guitars / vox / synths) was kind enough to answer our series of questions. Give it a read below, and as always, be sure to hit play in the Bandcamp link while you do so.

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How and when did you first get into playing music, or metal more specifically, and how did your band get its start? Any pushback from family/those close to you?

I’ve been in bands since I was 16 and playing in bars since I was 18 or so. I’ve played all sorts of music, metal most specifically since I joined a speed metal band in the 90’s. This band started as a vehicle for songs I was writing during the isolation of the pandemic in 2020-2021. I’ve made a career of music so, nobody has ever ‘pushed back’ so to speak. I guess I’ve been lucky in that.

How would you describe your band and what you play to someone who is completely in the dark?

It’s rock music. It does have its own personality. Heavy at times, maybe somewhat “progressive” in that we experiment with arrangement and sounds; maybe not any more or less than other bands in the genre, but obviously I write coming from a personal place – and that includes my own ideas about vibe, rhythm, odd-times….whatever is inspiring. It’s writing so, what moves me, or inspires growth ends up being the output. Maybe it is ‘dark’ at times, but so is the world. Maybe it resolves to hopefulness at times, and that’s me being (perhaps fatally) an idealist.

Is there one (or more) thing about your latest / upcoming album or about your band that no one will find in any interview or review that you care to divulge?

Not really. It’s the album we decided we could make at the time. It’s the band we are and everything progresses. The next album will sound like us – better, but still us. It’s what happens. I guess that’s something about interviews and reviews and albums, I guess – they’re only capturing today. Tomorrow will be different, hopefully seeing advancements. Always moving forward.

Any funny stories from playing shows / tours / festivals, etc?

Personally? Way back, I played a show with Tool once. They schooled me, for sure. Particularly in being authentic and methodical, meticulous.

What do you see as some of the great things happening in and around the metal scene (yours or just in general) and what are some of the worst things happening right now?

Lots of music and expression. All the time. That’s great. Picking apart peoples’ bad decisions and focusing on drama, not so much.

Most folks have passions for a cause or causes that are close to them. What, if any, are some of the most important issues (social/political/humorous/etc.) for you / your band and how do you insert those issues into your music?

We should always think about how world systems affect one another. If you don’t you’re probably doing more harm than good. These things come up in the band’s lyrics. I think they also come up in the writing of the music itself but in a more abstract, emotional way.

Do you have day jobs or hobbies you want to share?

No.

What advice do you have for music critics and outlets out there? How can we all better serve the genre in the eyes of a hard-working musician?

Listen and be authentic. Everyone can tell if you’re fake or phoning it in, or just doing it because you think it’s cool. If you love music and love listening to it – first and foremost, it will come through.

Any specific long term goal(s) in mind?

Make more music. Play shows, write more songs and make more records. Diversify. Play in front of as many people as is possible.

When you’re not obsessing over your own material, what are some of your favorite albums to listen to currently?

Tigran Hamasyan – “Mockroot”
Queens of the Stone Age – “Like Clockwork”
Emmylou Harris – “Wrecking Ball”
The Rolling Stones – “Exile on Main St.”
Meshuggah – “Koloss”
Dirty Loops – “Loopified”
Muse – “Absolution”
Atarashii Gakko! – “Wakage Ga Itaru”

What is the near future outlook for you or your band? Any specific events on the horizon that the masses should be aware of?

Coming to a stage near you – we hope! Record #2

Summarize your band in one word.

Applied.

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Many thanks to Alan for the time!

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Lying Beside You is out now, and you can give that a listen on Bandcamp. For more information on Ohpen Ahrms, give them a follow on Facebook or Instagram.