The single, “Rare Earth Metal”, is classic OGRE essentialized. It’s blown-out, grating, and chaotic, but packed into a tight arrangement.
The trio steamrolls through punk assaults, exclamatory vocals, roiling basslines, animalistic drums pounded dexterously, smoggy soundscapes, and almost Pixies-esque surf guitar lines (but done on the bass, presumably, by Ace).
Despite its title, the track feels less like an earth metal and more like an alloy: the perfect melding of all three Ogres. Ace brought in the initial musical idea that jump-started the collaboration. “I’m really proud of the riff. I think it’s one of the most technically proficient things we’ve played,” he says. When Ogre first formed, all three members were near-beginners on their instruments. Over the years, they’ve developed a shared musical language and gained some impressive chops.
Nils supplied the lyrics, an abstract exploration of insatiability. “It seems like a song about being addicted to something, but there was no tangible intention there,” he says. While Ace and Grace have defined lyrics, Nils is more impressionistic and improvisatory with his words. “Nils is like the Lil Jon of the band with his ad-lib approach,” Grace quips. She also contributed the dance-y bassline, inspired by a Bollywood film. “Rare Earth Metal” encapsulates Bryan‘s(out 5/29) unhinged energy, which Ace credits in part to listening to a lot of black metal and Don Caballero during the writing process.
OGRE’s new single “Rare Earth Metal” will release digitally on CorpoRAT Records on April 23rd, 2026.
“Erik Core is part of the tradition of protest singers/songwriters extending back to Woody Guthrie… speaking truth to power that’s needed during the current assault on democracy in the name of religion and nativism…”– Razorcake
“A punk rock version Woodie Guthrie with the storytelling you’d expect from Johnny Cash.”– James Damion / Jersey Beat
“Erik Core from San Francisco brings us the finest, rhythm-driven acoustic punk… with its gloomy, almost desperate mood…” – Ox Fanzine
see OGRE live:
04/23 Portland OR @ Star Theater w/ Zookraught + Happy Death Men
04/27 Missoula @ Z.A.C.C.
04/29 Spokane WA @ The Big Dipper
04/30 Moscow ID @ Mikey’s Gyros
05/01 Seattle WA @ Sunset Tavern
05/02 Tacoma WA @ The Valley
OGRE is:
| Grace Crane – rhythm bass, vocals |
| Ace Jennings – lead bass, vocals |
| Nils Niswonger – drums, vocals |
visit OGRE online:
Website: https://www.ogrebyogre.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ogrebyogre
Bandcamp: https://ogrebyogre.bandcamp.com
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ogre/1652616623
Tidal: https://tidal.com/artist/35344910/u
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2VVgdgcVCQxg1QKLpX9GrH
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