Sunless

Oceanwake is one of those bands that comes once or twice in a generation. It's something old presented a new way. This is akin to the reinvention of the wheel, and that's not just hyperbole. The bands first album was stellar and this album is genre shattering.

The production is more or less on par with their debut, but perhaps a little rawer. The music is still in the Swallow the Sun camp, but with a lot more post metal riffs, think Anathema's 'Silent Enigma' era atmosphere and (EchO)'s modern mentality and you'll start getting the picture.

The modern heavy guitar tones are a bit more laid-back this go around. Melodic and monolithic they don't stop the entire album. The music is somewhat groove-oriented though not in the funky Cathedral way, as both guitars play off each other. Clean and distorted riffs come and go alternately to offset the growled and clean vocals.

The vocals are a bit rougher than on the first album, as if Eero won't be able to growl in the next couple of years. The clean vocals are very mellow, almost subtle in their delivery, as if they were more of an after thought. (EchO), from Italy, once again comes to mind when the vocals are in play.

This is a large step forward in terms of musical progress, akin to Process of Guilt's evolution. New ground is being tread here and it's incredible. The music is beautiful and thought provoking. An abstract painting with bright colors, in a minimalist presentation, is really the best way to describe this. Track three's ending brings to mind the ending of Anathema's 'A Shroud of Frost'. Track four is more cut and dry post-metal, doom/death. All the songs are amazing however.

This album is more post-metal than doom/death but it's still great. Their blending of more traditional doom/death sounds with post-metal/rock is practically flawless. Truly, this band has a wondrous future for those adventurous to follow wherever their path leads. This album is highly recommended to all.