ALBUM REVIEW: Hell Is Where The Heart Is – Oceans
From Germany we have OCEANS and their highly anticipated second record Hell Is Where The Heart Is. The band have described themselves as “Modern Death Metal mixed with 90’s Nu-Metal and spherical Post-Rock” – a strong yet intriguing statement to kick things off with. Given how well their debut album was received they have so impressed with their mash of styles, but does the follow-up continue to amaze?
We begin with intro track Love that features a voiceover offering the lore behind both the song and album title. Now we can tell that this is meant to sound creepy and distorted, but honestly it feels a little corny and comes across as a little try hard. It’s not the best first impression, but all is forgiven with Awakening that starts with a faded-out guitar before everything then kicks in with an industrial rock sound very reminiscent of both MOTIONLESS IN WHITE and SLIPKNOT, with vocals that beautifully switch between growling and cleans.
Things don’t slow down with Sulfur as the fast guitar and growling continues. It does decide to deceive you at first when things start out quiet so you naturally go to turn your volume up but of course the music then comes at you at full blast – just the way that it should be listened to. This track is also where we are sure we can hear an influence from KORN.
In terms of the songs, not once are we ever let down on this record. Even when things might start out sounding much more serious and slow it doesn’t stay that way – we’re looking at you Skin. The wait for the drop completely pays off and once the growling starts you know that this is how things are meant to be. It’s just a shame that they have to ruin things with the voiceover interludes, Longing and Clarity. It’s easy enough to understand their purpose and respect an artist’s choice for wanting to use them, but it just doesn’t work in this case. More than anything rather than adding immersion it just takes you out of the experience the band want you to have.
But still, OCEANS are forgiven with what the rest of the album has to offer. Highlights include Home, which creates a moody atmosphere and genuinely feels like SYSTEM OF A DOWN, SLIPKNOT, KORN and LINKIN PARK had a child together; If There’s A God She’s Abandoned Us, firstly because of the great title, and secondly because this is a beautiful song that switches from slow piano to a full rock-metal anthem; and the title track that is just pure fast metal brilliance and a fantastic way to close the album.
Hell Is Where The Heart Is offers a lovely blend of heavy metal, deathcore and nu-metal. The changes in style during songs keeps things constantly engaging and exciting. This would be a perfect album if the band just hadn’t decided to do the intro and interludes, which take away from the record rather than add to it. But still, what an incredible album.
Rating: 8/10
Hell Is Where The Heart Is is out now via Nuclear Blast Records.
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