For many of us, music can be like a drug. At first everything and anything feels and is beyond amazing, but over time as our consumption increases, this magical euphoria wears off to a hollow and crushing emptiness. The now discerning music addict desperately searches for that new thing that will make them feel the high that they once had. But it gets harder to again feel this way. Until they stumble across something so unique, original, and idiosyncratic they cannot help but feel giddy, childish excitement.
OvO are one of those bands. Curiously infuriating yet dangerously exhilarating in their inability to be pigeon hold into genre or specific sound. Deftly navigating between noise rock, doom, extreme and blackened metal, industrial sludge and even electronica. “Decibel Magazine” have perhaps described them best by hailing the bands sound as “a David Lynch dance party”. Italy’s OvO, continue to rewrite the definition of what alternative music can be. Something which New Zealand audiences can look forward to seeing this October 2026.
Formed by Stefania Pedretti and Bruno Dorella in Milan, Italy in the late 90s. OvO have taken their inspiration from the likes of Suicide, Swans, and Diamana Galas. Centred around the ear piercing banshee-like vocals of Stefania, and a constant guitar drone and dark menace as the undercurrent of their songs. Bruno, equally essential in their music, pounds a stripped down drum-set as if he were the leader of an invading war party. Coupled with intensive percussion samples to help craft a unique and experimental sound.
With 25 years as a band, 11 albums behind them (including their most recent Gemma), over 1000 shows/festivals across the globe, and sharing stages with many of the biggest names in experimental music; Godflesh, Lightning Bolt, Thurston Moore, Sleepytime Gorilla Music, Psychic TV, Dillinger Escape Plan, Big Brave, Ufomammut, among others - New Zealand audiences have their chance to see one of the most unique and experienced bands still active.
Thursday 22nd October 2026: Havelock North - Boneshed
Tickets available from undetheradar.co.nz.
https://www.instagram.com/ovochannel/
https://artoffact.com/artists/ovo/
instagram.com/ovochannel/
