Ten years after their fourth album Midnight Rising (2014, see review) the American prog metal band Oceans Of Night releases their new album called Mindstorm; featuring twelve brand new tracks, clocking in over just one hour of playing time. Oceans Of Night was formed in 2005, and the current members are: Scott Mosher (guitar, bass guitar, keyboards), Alan Smithee (drums) and Scott Oliva (vocals). The sound of Oceans Of Night could best be described as crushing, prog heavy metal with lots of atmospheric soundscapes. The standout tracks on this album for me are Vast And Infinite and Before The Fall, both with obvious Queensr˙che influences. Vast And Infinite is an instrumental song displaying the band's strength, featuring great guitar passages, memorable keyboard passages, and stunning melodies. The longest song is called No Turning Back and that one is truly diverse, proggy and packed with electronics which rather annoy me after a while.... The title track features female vocals (April Rach) as well as Siren and Distant (Nina Harten aka Derosnec) and Obelisk is another great instrumental track, where I hear hints of Rush, Queensr˙che and Fates Warning. Conclusion: Mindstorm is a great listen experience, suited for lovers of prog metal with crossover musical elements from modern rock music. ***+ Martien Koolen (edited by Dave Smith) Where to buy? |
