Lifting the Curse

Ohio Sky finally release an album … and it’s great

by Michael Gallucci

Ohio Sky‘s terrific new full-length, Curses, was supposed to be recorded at Ante Up Audio on East 36th, but the Cleveland quintet wasn’t happy with the sound they were getting in the studio. So they broke into the old warehouse attached to Ante Up, set up their gear, and made the album pretty much live, in single takes. The result is one of the best-sounding records to come out of Cleveland in 2012. “We’ve come a long way,” says singer and rhythm guitarist Vince DiFranco(pictured, center). “When the band started, it was a completely different idea. We were even an instrumental band for a while.”

It’s been kind of a rough couple of years. Only DiFranco and drummerEric Bambic remain from the original 2005 lineup. And after the release of the 2008 EP Apophis, it seemed like they hit one roadblock after another. “That’s why the album is titled Curses — we couldn’t catch a break,” explains DiFranco.

“Instead of trying to go for a political thing or a social-commentary thing, this is what the fuck’s going on in our heads.”

It sounds like the band has finally found some footing. Cursesexplodes out of your speakers with hammering confidence — even more remarkable, since DiFranco only recently stepped up to the mic, replacing the band’s original singer. And unlike so many other groups that blend prog, metal, and stoner sounds, Ohio Sky rarely overstuff their songs with needless showing off. The 13 tracks are tight, focused, and surprisingly melodic at times.

Ohio Sky recently recorded a four-song EP called This House Is Old and Filled With Ghosts, which is slated to be released in the spring. DiFranco calls it ethereal and spacey, and even kinda jammy.

“We just wanted to put another side of us out there,” he says.