Album Review: Oceans – The Sun And The Cold

Oceans is an apt name for a band with such a vast scope and constantly shifting sound. The German-Austrian band’s early material was so impressive they got signed before they’d played a show, and they’ve been creating a salt-tinged buzz ever since.

Having shown their promise on their excellent Into The Void EP, debut full-length The Sun And The Cold is a hugely ambitious work that arrives fully formed. The title-track sets sail with post-rock swirls, black metal picking and even the odd pneumatic nu-metal riff muscling its way in. And as the album progresses, they bring in abrasive death metal and dark gothic sweeps, along with accessible Linkin Park-style hooks.

These ingredients shouldn’t all fit together quite as well as they do, and yet somehow the evocative atmosphere and visceral aggression comes together to form a near-perfect storm. Oceans have serious ambition, and this stunning debut is just the start of achieving it.

Verdict: 4/5