A new album from Osi and the Jupiter is always a cause for celebration around these parts.  Since their formation in 2016, they have been as constant as the Northern Star, never taking more than a couple of years to put out a new release and always having them be of, at least in my opinion, stellar quality.  Still, in recent years, they have been playing with their formula, leaning more heavily into Appalachian folk inspired by their native Ohio than the Nordic folk that dominated their early era.  On Larvatus, the musical pendulum starts to swing back in the other direction.

Larvatus began life a long time ago, way back in 2020, and even though Osi and the Jupiter have put out numerous EPs, splits and albums since then, the bones of Larvatus took shape during uncertain and downright scary times.  Over the years, these songs have been carefully and slowly refined, even as newer material more in the Appalachian folk style seemingly poured out of the duo of multi-instrumentalist Sean Kratz and inimitable, esteemed cellist Kakophonix.  Now, nearly five years later, these songs are ready to see the light of day, with the help of mixing by Greg Chandler and bass and vocals from the newest addition to the project, Elyse Hirsch.  Now a trio, this new batch of Osi and the Jupiter songs hearken much closer to the purely Nordic folk of Nordlige Rúnaskog and Uthuling Hyl, with a few notable exceptions.  You’re not going to find a lot of overlap with your Heilungs and your Wardrunas this time around, but the compositions are much more contemplative, meditative and evocative, favoring big synths and simple guitar arpeggios over strummed and sung ballads.  I know I say this with pretty much every Osi and the Jupiter release that I review, but I think maybe this time they really have found the perfect middle ground between the two styles they are known for.

Larvatus is a slow burn of an album for sure.  The ten-minute opener “Saged Incantations” really sets the mood with washes of synths and Kratz’s acoustic picking underpinning Kakophonix’s ethereal cello work.  The next two tracks are…also instrumental, which is definitely a choice they made, but hey, it works.  There’s no whiplash between tracks, so you can really lean into the vibe of the album as it grows and grows.  The first hint of vocals comes in with lead single “Snake Healer,” which might be one of the finest songs this crew has ever put out.  Brought in by Hirsch’s deeply melodic and groovy bassline, it’s the folkiest Larvatus gets besides closer “Lurking Beneath the Pines,” but the interplay between Kakophonix’s cello and the lead guitar work by guest Remy Remington make this shine.  It’s immediately followed by “Wild Host,” the signature showcase from Kakophonix that always leaves my jaw on the floor.  He really is a singular talent, and while there might not be a large pool of cellists in the metal and metal-adjacent world, it’s no wonder at all why he is at the top of everyone’s list when the need arises.  Beyond that, Larvatus recedes back into a more subdued sound with “I Am the Howling Mountains” featuring lead vocals and lyrics contributed by Hirsch.  Her presence on this album alone is enough to sell it as a standout release in a catalog of standouts.  The backing and lead vocals she provides are subtle but gorgeous, and her bass playing is a wonderful melodic counterpoint to the cello.

If I have anything negative to say about Larvatus it’s that Osi and the Jupiter have developed a formula for their albums that their last few releases have followed pretty closely, in terms of the types of songs they have created.  But…if I love the formula, can I really complain that much?  It’ll be good to see if the shift in style continues even farther into their next release, and if it will continue to feature Hirsch’s contributions, because hopefully yes to both of those.  Either way, probably won’t have to wait that long to find out.

— Ian

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Larvatus is available now on Eisenwald.  For more information on Osi and the Jupiter, visit their Instagram page.