Birmingham’s very own tech metal titans that are Oceans Ate Alaska have return with a knuckle whitening thrill ride that tears your heart out of your chest. Hikari is available via Fearless Records on July 28th, so note that down now before you continue reading, because it’s one you won’t want to miss.
Sticking with the musical direction found on their debut album Lost Isles, but almost driving it to borderline deathcore directions in many cases, Hikari is very dynamic, callous and melodic. The metalcore and progressive elements are mixed correctly in a well co-ordinated balance, meshed with beautiful, catchy clean singing choruses.
It’s hard to tell if this is good or bad, but they gently pull the record away from that very dark, bitter deathcore threshold, whilst still using a lot of it’s mechanics. As if they are somewhat timid to wholly embrace that side. BUt this diversifies their sound to something extremely refreshing and unique, whilst keeping things secretly sadistic, with breakdown’s that feel merciless and cold, and melodic guitar leads that yank the heart-strings.
The album, start to finish is like a ten-tonne hammer. It’s stronger than the normal human mind can fathom, and it’s extremely heavy. The two singles Covert and Escapist did set the tone for what was to come, but won’t prepare anyone. It really blew our minds. But it does miss some of the more melancholy area’s Lost Isles possessed, and adopts a more harsh sound, with more gut and more throat.
Tracks like Sarin, do nod back to the previous record, whilst handing the audience everything they have ever wanted in a record, and that is progression and variety all tied into one, well written package.
If you love your music full of amazing instrumentation, powerful lyrics, coarse breakdowns, emotional, melodic guitar leads that display technicality and blends genre’s seamlessly into something unique, then search no further. You have everything your heart desires. Check out the tracks Deadweight, Birth-marked and Ukiyo.
Oceans Ate Alaska devastate all with a crushing and mind-bending record that blends melodic passages with powerful, dynamic drum patterns, raw, hurt vocals and throaty guitar riffs. It’s all we’ve ever desired and needed in one beautiful record.
Oceans Ate Alaska devastate all with a crushing and mind-bending record that blends melodic passages with powerful, dynamic drum patterns, raw, hurt vocals and throaty guitar riffs. It's all we've ever desired and needed in one beautiful record.
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