Album Review: Ogives Big Band – Boisterous Live (& Other Animals) (Self Released)

Carl Fisher 2 min read

Ogives Big Band, the riff powerhouse from Bristol, UK, will release their first ever live album ‘Boisterous Live (& Other Animals)’ on March 25th, 2025. The recording is from the Bristol show of the Boisterous Love album release tour in July 2024. This release marks the beginning of a brand-new chapter for the band, acting as both a showcase of their live sound and as an introduction to the new line up.

A mix of songs from their ‘Boisterous Love’ album and their ‘Harm Redux’ EP from 2022, this live album perfectly captures the mind-melting manic energy and intensity of what it is like to see Ogives Big Band in the flesh. Which, while I can’t personally confirm as I’ve not seen them live, is easy to picture thanks to the rawness of this recording.

I love a live album to sound ‘live’ and that is what we get here, warts and all. A nine-track showcase of their creative insanity that genre-bends to the point of unrecognisability. What is it? It’s riffy, but from a progressive standpoint. It’s also got noise elements, can get psychedelic in places, drifts into sludge at times, and can still, somehow, be anthemic. It’s Ogives Big Band and they are unique bunch.

 

 

This is what Boisterous Live (& Other Animals) captures, Making this a must-listen for those looking for something weird and new. It’s not often a live album works as an introduction to a band, but this is a way to experience the strongest aspects of them and be part of their new chapter. Although I can’t promise you that you’ll love everything about this band, after all, they’re mightily eclectic.

There are nine-tracks in total, so you really are getting a whole smorgasbord of Ogives Big Band’s sounds. From the hyperactivity of Tethra, to the chunkiness of Super Sanity, the sludgy groove touches of Harfynn Teuport, the wacked out progressive intensity of Absolute Unit, and the addictive heaviness of Brandishment. Banger track after banger track, filled with diverse and artistic ideas. These words are a simple summation of the tracks, but rest assured, there’s a hell of a lot more going on in each and the others that make up the album.

It’s a must listen, even if it’s just to have some idea of what this band sounds like. The cherry on top? I love that we can hear an animated crowd here and there too. A small touch, but a very welcome one.

Ogives Big Band – Boisterous Live (& Other Animals) Track Listing

1. Tethra
2. /…./…….
3. Super Sanity
4. Harfynn Teuport
5. Absolute Unit
6. Annihilation
7. Chronic Thuggery
8. Brandishment
9. ETNA




Links

LinkTree

Author

  • Owner/Administrator/Editor/Writer/Interviewer/YouTuber - you name it, I do it. I love gaming, horror movies, and all forms of heavy metal and rock. I'm also a Discworld super-fan and love talking all things Terry Pratchett. Do you wanna party? It's party time!

Ogives Big Band - Boisterous Live (& Other Animals) (Self Released)
  • The Final Score - 7.5/10
    7.5/10
7.5/10
Sending
User Review
0/10 (0 votes)