They may not have released material until 2020, but Los Angeles based OTTTO’s roots stretch back to 2015 when Bryan Noah Ferretti and Tye Trujillo started jamming. Their self-titled EP showcased a diverse sound that fell somewhere between crossover thrash, punk, and alternative rock, and this has been amplified on this year’s Life is a Game full length. With a fuller sound that’s used to keep the energy at a high supporting diverse songwriting, there’s a lot to like about what OTTTO has to offer and they’ve left themselves room to keep experimenting in the years to come.
Opener “My Pain” is what initially drew me to OTTTO’s music, as it comes roaring out of the gate with a huge guitar hook and booming drums that feels somewhere between skate punk and hard rock, sounding somewhere between CKY and Clutch with some other influences seeping in throughout the song. The band does a great job of straddling the line between grittier and melodic hooks, sometimes going straight into faster riffs and drum patterns that recall the crunch and weight of crossover thrash while others chill out a bit more in favor of slower, sprawling instrumentation. Life is a Game is at its best when OTTTO is able to build up to absolutely huge hooks though, which makes songs like “Night Howlers” explode out of your speakers with riffs that leave a lasting impression. Songs like this also showcase how the trio can move between different rock and punk styles seamlessly while keeping the energy at a high, and that works to their advantage. Despite these strengths, a few of the more straightforward crossover moments and some of the exploration of softer elements doesn’t fully land, resulting in some tracks that are strong but don’t have the same staying power. The likes of “My Pain”, “Night Howlers”, and “Dance of the Dead” easily make Life is a Game worth checking out though, and when OTTTO finds that sweet spot they have hooks that will be stuck in your head for some time to come.
It isn’t just the instrumentals that are able to tread the line between melodic and aggressive, as the vocals also provide a similar level of variety. Bryan Noah Ferretti has the type of voice that jumps out at, as his pitch falls somewhere between alternative rock and punk and is likely to create a sense of nostalgia for anyone that grew up listening to the Tony Hawk Pro Skater soundtracks. Ferretti is tapping into this same type of sound, breaking into a yell that has a bit of an edge to it when the instrumentals get louder and in your face and then transitioning into a mellower pitch as the songs head in that direction. The style is familiar but delivered in a way that’s likely to appeal to fans from across the rock and punk spectrum, and this gives OTTTO an advantage as they continue to blur genre lines.
Three years after their EP, OTTTO has returned with a full length that pushes all aspects of their sounds out further while keeping the same emphasis on melodic and aggressive hooks. Not every song reaches the same heights, but when they find that sweet spot between the alt-rock and crossover thrash sides of the aisle the material leaves an impression. There’s additional room for the band to expand upon their softer side and continue finding their own style, but if they keep writing material like this I think they can get there. Life is a Game is available from ORG.
-Review by Chris Dahlberg