Italian progressive death metal trio Ocean release their first full-length album twenty five years after their inaugural EP.

In 1994 the band began to come together with the thought of creating melodic death metal music. They issued a demo and an EP in 1996, then went silent on the recording front for a couple of decades. They are back now, realizing the original intention. The band is Massimiliano Pagliuso (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards), Gianpaolo Caprino (guitar), and Alessandro “Sancho” Marconcini (drums).

The sound of waves and a crying baby are the opening bars of the first song, followed by a short melodic voice interrupted by coarse croaking. Acoustic guitars dance around swelling electric ones. The percussion becomes increasingly persistent, urgent, and menacing, and the guitar turns stabbing. Then voice is back, bigger than before. This is “Hiding Lies,” and it is a flag for the entire set.

The band’s music is described as melodic death metal sometimes. I think progressive elements are stronger here, but there is a large and abiding melodic element so I see where the recurring handle comes from. The appealing factors for me throughout the album are the recurring juxtaposition of light and dark, harsh and quiet, and the unfiltered emotional expressions. The longer you listen to the album the more it grows on you.

I especially appreciate the lead guitar moments were technical ability shines through. The epic fourteen-minute “Atlantidea Suite Part 1” is a stand-out track in this regard and as a summary and emblem of the intent for the overall set. This album will appeal more to the prog crowd than the death metallers out there.

The Pattern is out now. You can pick it up from Time To Kill Records at their on-line store, or the ever-ready Bandcamp.

Links.

Bandcamp, https://oceana.bandcamp.com/

Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/oceanabandofficial/

Time To Kill Records, https://timetokillrecords.bigcartel.com/category/oceana