Album Rating: 2.5

Half of me thinks this is neat, the other half thinks Im listening to an adult contemporary music channel on satellite tv

Album Rating: 2.5

Guess I'm in the minority, but I did not enjoy the more subdued approach they took this time around. First listen and the album seemed to be over in a flash. Not a single memorable moment compared to the last album. Admittedly I wasn't really paying that much attention, but I think that's also because nothing caught my attention. Oh well, last album is still great.

Damn

Album Rating: 4.0

Ouch... ah well, that's understandable though. They really pared down their sound this time around, and I understand how it could garner more mixed reactions

For sure, I still can't understand how someone can listen to that last half of Red Forest Road and feel nothing though. Shit is EPIC.

Album Rating: 3.8 | Sound Off

This definitely doesn't have the forced dynamics of a lot of the previous albums, but I think it's better for it. "A Return to the Earth" below is still my favorite Oceans of Slumber song, but that one is also probably the most similar to stuff on this.

Album Rating: 3.0

I'm not sure they've hit their potential just yet with this release. Getting closer, though.



I thought this started off strong and gradually petered out. The stripped-down approach they took on this record can work ("The Waters Rising", "Hearts of Stone") but too often you get these moody four-minute soundscapes that sort of blend together in a way that comes off as monotonous.

Album Rating: 3.0

Actually, a good case in point: "A Return to the Earth Below" is also my favorite by them, but it's in spite of the second half of the song. The moment they lose the slow groove and go into full doom metal mode, they lose what makes the track special. They're capable of putting out great stuff, but there's a lot of excess material that I think they could cut.