Our Survival Depends on Us
Austrian post-metal/doom/sludge band founded in 1999.
Our Survival Depends on Us is a post-metal, doom, and sludge act originating in Salzburg, Austria. The group was started in 1999 by Mucho Kolb and Mani Eibner, issuing their debut demo, *Breathe*, the following year. After that release, Thom Kinberger and Hajot Gmeilbauer—who had previously played with Kolb in Soulsearch and also perform in Thelema and Sturmpercht—joined the band. OSDOU went through several short-term bassists before Barth Resch, formerly of Belphegor, became a permanent member prior to the recording of their second album. In 2014, founding drummer Eibner left, and Thomas Apfelthaler was brought in as his replacement. The band is currently signed to the Ván Records label.
Quick Facts
- Landscape
- yes
- Years Active
- 1999–present
- Origin
- Salzburg, Austria
- Genre
- Post-metal
- Label
- Ván Records
- Current Members
- Mucho Kolb / Hajot Gmeilbauer / Thomas Apfelthaler / Reiner Maislinger / Klaus Buchebner
- Past Members
- Mani Eibner / Thom Kinberger / Barth Resch
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Our Survival Depends on Us was founded in 1999 by Mucho Kolb and Mani Eibner in Salzburg, Austria. The band released their first demo recording, Breathe, in 2000. After this release, Thom Kinberger and Hajot Gmeilbauer (also of Thelema and Sturmpercht) joined the band; both had previously played with Kolb in Soulsearch. The band had multiple short-term bassists until Barth Resch (formerly of Belphegor) took over permanently before recording their second album.
In 2014, founding member Mani Eibner left the band, and the group recruited Thomas Apfelthaler as the new drummer. The band's discography includes studio albums such as Jumping Once Too Often into the Ocean That Had Always Been Our Inspiration (2005), Painful Stories Told with a Passion for Life (2009), Scouts on the Borderline Between the Physical and Spiritual World (2015), and Melting the Ice in the Hearts of Men (2019). They also released a split 7-inch single with Der Blutharsch in 2009.
Reader's Guide
Our Survival Depends on Us occupies a distinctive place in the Austrian heavy music scene, blending post-metal, doom, and sludge elements. Their longevity—spanning from 1999 into the 2020s—demonstrates a sustained creative output, with albums released on labels such as Psychedoomelic Records, Totem-Records, and Ván Records. The band's membership has included musicians with connections to other notable acts like Belphegor, Thelema, and Sturmpercht, reflecting a network within extreme and experimental metal. Their 2015 and 2019 albums on Ván Records mark a period of stability and continued relevance. While not a mainstream act, the band has maintained a dedicated following and contributed to the post-metal genre's evolution in Central Europe.
Did You Know?
- Their first demo, Breathe, was released in 2000.
- Barth Resch, formerly of Belphegor, joined as permanent bassist before the second album.
- Founding drummer Mani Eibner left in 2014 and was replaced by Thomas Apfelthaler.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Our Survival Depends on Us?
OSDOU is a heavy music band based in Salzburg, Austria, that was put together back in 1999. They are known for fusing the weight of doom and sludge with the atmospheric, evolving structures of post-metal.
What genre does Our Survival Depends on Us play?
The band sits at the crossroads of post-metal, doom, and sludge metal. Their sound leans on slow, crushing riffs and long, dynamic song structures rather than traditional verse-chorus formats.
Who founded Our Survival Depends on Us?
Mucho Kolb and Mani Eibner launched the project in 1999. After the debut demo, Thom Kinberger and Hajot Gmeilbauer—both of whom had previously shared a stage with Kolb in Soulsearch—stepped in to round out the lineup.
What record label is Our Survival Depends on Us on?
The band has released material through Ván Records, an Austrian label that has carried their output.
What is Our Survival Depends on Us's debut release?
Their first release was a self-titled demo called *Breathe*, put out in 2000. Before the second album was recorded, Barth Resch—who had been a member of Belphegor—locked in as the band's permanent bassist after a run of short-term replacements.
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