Oceans of Slumber
Winter


4.0
excellent

Review

by manosg EMERITUS
March 11th, 2016 | 45 replies


Release Date: 2016 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Modern progressive music that brings the feels. As rare as hen’s teeth.

As years pass, it’s only natural for some of us to idealize the past. Nothing will ever surpass the first time we jammed our favorite bands and of course, one common complaint is that music nowadays simply lacks the emotional foundation it had in one’s favorite era. The problem becomes even more frequent with progressive metal. It’s no lie that kids today can play but can they really perform? Can they combine technique with songwriting and at the same time connect with their audience?

Winter is Oceans of Slumber’s second LP but come to think of it, it’s actually their introduction to their audience. One reason is that they have matured greatly since their debut and thankfully shed most of their metal/death-core elements. In addition, this is their first release with female singer Cammie Gilbert, which alone is a game-changer. Classifying Oceans of Slumber as a female-fronted act is an injustice; Cammie’s vocal approach is the exact opposite of your typical female-fronted band. She’s never over the top, not once does she utilize an operatic register and ethereal is not an adjective you’d use to describe her voice. Instead of engaging in acrobatics, her delivery is soulful, bluesy, colorful and powerful. Her performance on the cover version of The Moody Blues’ classic “Nights in White Satin” is enough to give the song a different dimension and a testament to her abilities.

Moreover, even though the instrumentation is progressive in a metal environment, calling it progressive metal would be inaccurate. The music isn’t flashy or overly demanding and there’s no trace of wankery. Oceans of Slumber create soundscapes with changes on tempo and dynamics while there are plenty of cathartic breaks with increased pace scattered throughout. For example, on “Devout” one can find clean female vocals over extreme instrumentation including blastbeats and brutal male singing while “Suffer the Last Bridge” includes mainstream melodic lines that are succeeded by more complex metal passages. In addition, the introduction of “Sunlight” could easily find its place on a modern Anathema record while “Apologue”, the most extreme track on here, has some early Opeth and My Dying Bride vibes. Album opener “Winter” is a fairly representative sample of the LP, as it meshes different vocal styles, tempo changes, is adventurous but at the same time emotional.

One thing that is apparent by looking at the track list is the high number of preludes/interludes. Nevertheless, they don’t feel unnecessary as they are used to close and open various scenes. “Lullaby”, which succeeds “Nights in White Satin”, closes the first chapter with a mesmerizing yet earthly a cappella performance while the acoustic guitar of “Laid to Earth” opens the second scene. The same is achieved with the flute-fused folk of “Good Life”, the ambient “How Tall the Trees” and the instrumental “Grace” that if it had lyrics would be an ideal Nina Simone tribute.

However, although it feels fresh, stating that Winter is the apotheosis of innovation would be wrong. The songwriting on here seems to have been taken from the Opeth playbook albeit in a rather tasteful manner. One thing about Opeth though, whether one likes them or not, is not only the antithesis they create, but the strength of the death metal parts. Oceans of Slumber haven’t yet excelled at that component; when they inject to their music the extreme metal elements, it doesn’t sound as special as the rest of the album and the drumming is somewhat trite.

To sum up, Winter is a pleasant surprise that derives not only from the fusion of all the different influences but because the backbone of the album is based on emotion. The fact that progressive is not used simply as a tag, but is in the very nature of the album, makes it a special listen for connoisseurs of the genre and not only. 



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user ratings (109)
3.7
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
manosg
Emeritus
March 11th 2016


12710 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Really enjoyed this one even though I'm not a big fan of modern progressive stuff.



Full stream: https://play.spotify.com/album/50O9zBtbDovF8Z8Z4xnHEO

ScuroFantasma
Emeritus
March 11th 2016


12214 Comments


Awesome review, with those descriprtions and comparisons to Opeth this seems like just what I'm looking for right now, will jam shortly.

manosg
Emeritus
March 11th 2016


12710 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Cheers Scuro! Really interested in seeing how guys on here react to the album or if I'm just overenthusiastic with this one.

ScuroFantasma
Emeritus
March 11th 2016


12214 Comments


Just listened to the title track, I really dig it actually, I'll pick this up for sure. My only problems with it are the less impressive metal element you mentioned, (it's not bad though just not handled as well as their proggy side) and the other is the over prevalence of vocals, like I wish she'd hang back a little and let the instruments speak for themselves every now and then (especially with an 8 minute song). She just sings too much on that track imo. Still a pretty impressive song though and I'll wait til I hear the whole album before I judge too much.

EvoHavok
March 11th 2016


8090 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Excellent review! This definitely seems interesting. I love all those rec'd albums.

manosg
Emeritus
March 11th 2016


12710 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Glad you enjoyed Scuro and yeah, you do have a point. It might be a matter of time and maturity before they improve their more extreme side and maybe letting their instrumental side breath by removing some of the vox.

SitarHero
March 11th 2016


14793 Comments


Just discovered this band through JOLLY. Pretty rad. Would've thought Mongi would review this.

manosg
Emeritus
March 11th 2016


12710 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Thanks Evo. This is one of those albums that I'm almost sure you'd enjoy.



Knew Sitar would appear at some point haha.

SitarHero
March 11th 2016


14793 Comments


Lol! I go where the prog is.

Voivod
Staff Reviewer
March 11th 2016


10959 Comments


Heard the first song from this one, their vocalist slays.

Good review.

manosg
Emeritus
March 11th 2016


12710 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Thanks Voi.

Willie
Moderator
March 11th 2016


20311 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

I've listened to this a few times, and I like it. I just haven't heard it enough to give a solid rating yet. Probably around a 3.5

Calc
March 11th 2016


17466 Comments


heard a single from this 2 weeks ago and the vocalist is very good, like she can write really good melodies.

Sabrutin
March 11th 2016


9843 Comments


Haha, yet again you reviewed an album I saw at the store today and were intrigued by. I won't check this out at the moment though, I still have to properly jam other things (and Ravensire!). The sweet review makes it sound interesting nevertheless.

manosg
Emeritus
March 11th 2016


12710 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

hahaha you have to be intrigued with cover art like that! But yeah check Ravensire first. I'd do the same thing, to be honest.

deslad
March 11th 2016


645 Comments


Sweet review manos; the album sounds really captivating.

EvoHavok
March 11th 2016


8090 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Artwork is indeed beautiful.

manosg
Emeritus
March 11th 2016


12710 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Thanks des, tell me what you think if/when you check the album.

Apollo
March 11th 2016


10691 Comments


damn, listening to Winter (song) and it's awesome

lalchimiste
March 11th 2016


1131 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I jammed the album couple times this week. Very interesting and well executed blend of many genres. I do have some drawbacks like the irrelevancy of the harsh vocals: sometimes the contrast with Gilbert is great (like on Apologue) but otherwise their placement seems unfit. Also, the interludes are nice and soothing but hinder the overall flow of the album and final one should have been cut or placed elsewhere in he album.



Otherwise album is excellent and refreshing for prog metal



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