 | Tracklist:
1. Son of the Morning
2. The New Breed
3. In All Honesty
4. Breathing Blood
5. Reveries of Flight
6. World Without A Sun
7. The Fire Dawn
8. A Banquet for Traitors
9. Commissioned by Kings
10. The Finisher
Release Date: 2009 | |
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On 41 Lists
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| Summary: Oh Sleeper legitimizes the term "regressive metal". |
13 of 17 thought this review was well written
No album should be more grandiose than Oh Sleeper's sophomore album 'Son of the Morning'. Tied to the concept of the "final battle between God and Satan", one would expect that the band would've created a progressive metal outing chock full of self-indulgent track times, kitschy pretentious lyrics and a token post-metal-closing track with gaudy vocal delivery and putrid pretentiousness shoved up in every musical orifice. Seeing as their debut 'When I Am God' was a tiny bit progressive with it's loopy song structure and overall connectivity (albeit it being a rather standard, if technical, metalcore album) you really were led to expect progression from the Texas quintet. Surely such an overambitious concept deserves an equally tawdry incarnation of "progressive metalcore"? Should it not over-exercise guitar wankery and make ample use of "epic" crescendos? Wouldn't that make the perfect concept album? Ideally, 'Son of the Morning' should be all of these things and more.
However, 'Son of the Morning' is surprisingly barebone. You'll soon discover that Oh Sleeper has stripped off the faux-progressive tendencies that were hinted on 'When I Am God' and in it's place have erected standard verse-chorus structures and a succinct, no-nonsense mentality. While this may seem like a positive element to many fans (Vices Like Vipers, anyone?), it doesn't translate well into an entire album and wholly fails in it's valiant efforts to be cohesive and diverse -- but there's really nothing wrong with 'Son of the Morning' asides the fact that it's too short and, well, lazy. If you're going to make a concept album about an undoubtedly controversial subject matter, you really 'ought to put some work into it. Like shearing the wool of potential off the sorry sheep of metalcore, Oh Sleeper have shaved off the fat found on 'When I Am God' and have created an anorexic metalcore album; it simply feels malnourished and incomplete.
It's not all terrible though: "Breathing Blood", for example, shows the band working brilliantly. As guitarist Shane Blay shows off his glistening technical chops with loopy riffs while simultaneously crooning out cryptic and generally well-written lyrics, the band creates an addictive albeit obviously Underoath-y song that embodies a succinct and undoubtedly direct songwriting approach that actually succeeds. Other definite highlights include the hugely catchy and riling title track, the climactic sweeping introduction of 'World Without a Sun' and the hefty punch of 'Commissioned By Kings'; all songs that find Oh Sleeper working at an all-time high.
However, in all other facets, 'Son of the Morning' is inarguably a sophomore slump. Best described by the term "regression", the album - with the exception of clean vocalist and lead guitarist Shane Blay - marks an obvious step back for every member of the band. Most notably, vocalist Micah Kinard, who was slightly above adequacy on 'When I Am God' with his mid-range howling and emotive delivery, has made the mistake of delivering all of his vocal parts in an obnoxious, high pitched screeching that devolves much of his previous emotion into monotonous hollering that - while much easier to understand - makes the record all the more robotic. New drummer Matt Davis and bassist Lucas Starr (who is audible) performs as expected, making little effort to differentiate themselves from countless other unremarkable metalcore rhythm sections and the collectively increase the amount of lifelessness. Sadly, Shane Blay (an ex-Between the Buried and Me-ist) represents the only real progression in Oh Sleeper's overall sound; his noodly and creative guitar lines ('Commissioned By Kings') have gotten groovier and more technical while his singing voice has become remarkably more confident and commanding (the inarguable lovechild of Aaron Gillespie and Dustin Kensrue).
Yet, like any good concept album, 'Son of the Morning' only has ten songs. However, these ten songs only make up half an hour of music -- the longest song song is only four minutes. It's obvious that the band made a clear effort to create an undeviating and focused record but in the process, they have created a completely basic and so-inoffensive-it-hurts record that feels so dry and uninspired in it's lack of depth; it's almost embarrassing that it's associated with such an ostentatious concept. 'Son of the Morning', even with it's few brilliant moments, does not shave off any fat, it shaves off intrigue. The record is the zeroing out of incredible potential; the dismissal of progression and the subtle introduction of regression. That's just it, isn't it? In order to stay focused and controlled, Oh Sleeper took so many many leaps backwards in their evolution that they depreciated, safely solidifying that the band comfortably suit the term "regressive metal" with 'Son of the Morning'; that they may just have created one of the biggest disappointments of 2009 thus far. Here's to moving forward, living by the fateful expression "if at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again..." and wishing Oh Sleeper the best of luck fulfilling their potential in the future.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 2 | Sound Off
I'm content with this review here, really discontented by the album it's on. So sad. My first contributor review. How cute.
Sorry guys for hating this.
| | | Album Rating: 1.5 | Sound Off
I havent really bothered with their new stuff, since I wasn't the biggest fan of their old stuff.
Go figure.
Nice reviewing ; ]
Edit: So this is pretty bad.
Digging: S. Carey - Hoyas Digging: S. Carey - Hoyas | | | Album Rating: 3.5
wtf man, I was really looking forward to this. I really enjoyed When I Am God and this review makes me want to cry. Great review nevertheless.
Digging: Uneven Structure - Februus | | | Album Rating: 2.5
Soooo....I have a little thing called metalcosis which basically means....I like this.
| | | Album Rating: 1.5 | Sound Off
Yeah, I used to be the worlds biggest metalcore man ever, though I can barely stand much metalcore at all, cept ABR and Underoath.
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Perhaps I won't buy this after all...
Digging: Gorilla Biscuits - Start Today Digging: Gorilla Biscuits - Start Today
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Really good review. Based on the three songs I streamed I didn't even notice Micah's new vocal delivery. I'm sure it will be evident with further listens or with a full spin of the whole album. Shame this was so disappointing. There was a lot of potential and hope on these guys' shoulders.
| | | Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off
I thought this was more cohesive than the last album. The new drummer does a much better job than the last one they had and I prefer the new rawer vocals over the over produced ones from last time. I couldn't disagree more with your review except for the fact that it was short. Last album got boring and repetitive. I did not feel that with this release. they were never progressive either. You didn't mention too much of the lyrics either. Concept is the best part of this album and they delivered it well.
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And nailed the Oh Sleeper review you did.
Really great review, smooth and informative and sexy
Digging: El-P - Cancer For Cure Digging: El-P - Cancer For Cure
| | | Album Rating: 2 | Sound Off
Thanks, fellows. Mike Roberts' "Shame this was so disappointing. There was a lot of potential and hope on these guys' shoulders." pretty much sums it up.
Amnesty, I said that the last album hinted at a progressive nature.
Redd, I used the word(s) to prove a point in the last paragraph through repetition. I don't see it as a problem.
| | | Album Rating: 2 | Sound Off
I actually just read that part over and it makes much less sense when it's not 4 in the morning.
I need to morning proof these reviews.
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biggest disappointments?
great review, feels more...confident.
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ew metalcore
i still love you calebear
Digging: Simian Mobile Disco - Unpatterns Digging: Simian Mobile Disco - Unpatterns
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
aww man, i swear some of us were actually pumped for this album? i dl'ed it but haven't listened to it yet.
Digging: Joe Bonamassa - Driving Towards The Daylight Digging: Joe Bonamassa - Driving Towards The Daylight | | |
agreed
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Great Review, but... I Disagree with some of it, the drums are improved so much over the drums in When I am God.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Improved vocals almost save this.
the longest song song is only four minutes
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so, Ive heard this sucks.
| | | Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off
I really like this. It's one of the better modern metalcore records and definitely better than their
first cd. I usually like your reviews waior and I'm sorry you hate it. Lyrics are posted entirely on a
previous blog on their myspace if anyone does actually give this a try. The lyrics make this album
good.
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I do however normally like your reviews waior.
dont lie
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