Although I feel it's dangerous to describe diversity in terms of "a melting pot," Belgium's Oceans of Sadness brew something astonishingly fresh and unique with 2007's 'Mirror Palace.' Although avant-garde and somewhat unconventional at times, the record is easily digestible and accessible for newcomer and long-time listeners to the genre. Beginning with the slow introduction to album opener "Mould," the album quickly boils over with stunningly heavy guitars, keyboards, and aggressive percussion. The harsher vocals leave something to be desired, but interspersed in their concoction are eerie and soothing clean vocal passages. The guitars deliver an undeniably thick crunch, and the thoroughly-metal cover of Alice in Chains' "Them Bones" puts to shame every cover I have ever heard of this song, and I've heard many. Oceans of Sadness provide for a captivating listen: the album is very heavy, melodic, and atmospheric. Fans disappointed that Arcturus have broken up would do well in checking these veteran Belgians out. This record is far from a melting pot of random ingredients: each element, riff, style, and genre is incorporated and executed with obvious purpose and zeal. Check out "Mould," "Mirror Palace," "Intoxicate Me" (its false ending is frightening if you don't expect it!), "Them Bones," and "Sleeping Dogs."
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