Sons of Otis

Infobox musical artist
Name = Sons of Otis


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Origin = Toronto, Canada
Genre = Doom metal, Stoner metal
Years_active = 1992–present
Label = Small Stone Records
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Current_members = Ken Baluke, Frank Sargeant, Ryan Aubin
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Sons of Otis are a stoner/doom metal band from Toronto, Canada, and although they have flourished under these headings, they actually predate the stoner/doom scene by a few years. Sons Of OTIS was formed by Ken Baluke in Toronto sometime around the years 1992 and 1993. Strongly influenced by the underground heavy music of the time (Melvins/Fudge Tunnel/Shallow N.D), their first release, "Paid To Suffer", turned out to be their most abraisive record to date. Subsequent albums took on a more ethereal, psychedelic tone, and this has led to their immiediate association with the Stoner Rock/Doom scene.

Though the band has been together for roughly sixteen years, they haven't stayed that way without many seemingly insurmountable struggles. The band has chewed up and spit out about 11 drummers and has at times resorted to a drum machine for recordings as well as performances. Every single record released by the band to date has been distributed by now defunct labels, leaving the band's back catalog consistently out of print. As a heavy sounding band, they're extremely hard to pigeonhole in terms of being involved in any one particular "heavy" scene. They've suffered the fate of receiving unfair album reviews and being generally misunderstood.

All of this said, their contributions to the heavy music scene are regarded by some as wholly original compared to other heavy bands in any scene, and as a result they have a dedicated (albeit small) worldwide cult following. Sons Of OTIS take great pride in being first and foremost a live act. They generally receive enthusiastic reviews of their live shows and are a favorite among their peers because of their sheer live power.

Sons Of OTIS will record/release a new album on Small Stone Records sometime in 2008.

Members

Current Line-up

*Ken Baluke - Guitars, Vocals
*Frank Sargeant - Bass
*Ryan Aubin - Drums

Past members

*Tony Jacome - guest drummer on the Songs For Worship album (2001).
*John Moran- Drummer (1993-1995)
*Emilio Mammone, aka "Stronzo" - drummer (1999-2001).

Discography

*(1994) "Paid To Suffer"
*(1996) "SpaceJumboFudge"
*(1999) "Templeball "
*(2000) "SpaceJumboFudge (re-release)"
*(2001) "Untitled 10" Vinyl EP"
*(2001) "Songs For Worship"
*(2005) "X"
*(2007) "Sons Of Otis / Queen Elephantine - Split"
*(2008) "Exiled"

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/sonsofotis Official Website]
* [http://www.smallstone.com/v5/23-sonsofotis.html Sons of Otis] at Small Stone Records
* [http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=668 Additional information] at Encyclopaedia Metallum