Most songs that carry fictional narrative storytelling through their songs were found in the genres of folk, pop, or blues. On the other hand, themes like darkness, depression, oppression, and the likes. But with Oceans & Omens, that is definitely not the case. Combining these two elements though, they made an amazing outcome in the form of their new album II: Aether. Released last August 16, 2024, their band wishes to offer something new to our palette. They want the listeners to experience a metal album that depicts a fantasy story which offers depth and immersion beyond most bands, with heavy-hitting songs offering to pull the listener into an epic narrative, persuading them to dive a little deeper to their lore.
Who is Oceans & Omens anyways? Based on the myths that the believers have collected, From the deepest, darkest abyss, dragging new and old souls with them the long dead Perth leviathans To The Depths re-join the land of the living. Resurrected in 2019 to continue The Survivor’s saga, Oceans & Omens was born. Washing up on the shores of Perth, Western Australia, and Mission Beach, Queensland, Oceans & Omens blend the rawness of quintessential old-school metalcore with melodic guitar hooks, groove driven riffs, catchy choruses and neck snapping breakdowns.
All interwoven into an epic narrative of gods, demons, the end of days and the horrors that lurk beneath the waves. Comprised of Rowan Leah (lead guitar), Aaron Ganley (rhythm guitar), Nathan Menage (bass), and Kieran Wallace (drums) the five-piece is rounded out by veritable giant Sean O’Brien bringing his highly dynamic vocal range to the intricate, rhythmic instrumentation. 2024 saw the release of the band’s debut album II:Aether, to the acclaim of the Perth metal scene. Yet again showcasing O&O’s ability to to craft powerful, dynamic material with the perfect balance of melody and brutality. A headlining show at Amplifier heralded the release, paired with a video for lead single “Final Breath”. After releasing their debut single Deliverance (March 2021), and their debut EP, I:Descent (June 2021), Oceans & Omens have proven themselves a force to be reckoned with live appearing alongside Melbourne act Banks Arcade, local scene heavy weights Patient Sixty-Seven, and Pincer+. As their hold on the Perth music scene tightens there’s definitely blood in the water, and for Oceans & Omens the sharks are circling.
Back to the record, this debut album serves as the second chapter in their metalcore rock-opera agenda. Following the events of I:Descent, their earlier EP released in 2021, The Survivor awakens in the story that this album offers. The album’s total rundown is 30 minutes and 17 seconds, a time enough for you to feel the horrors of this band’s storytelling.
Limbo serves as the opening for this album. Started with the faint sound of heartbeat, that short amount of time is enough to make your heart rate double. Limbo tells the story of the survivor after they woke up and realized that he is stuck somewhere life and death and it is inescapable. The instrumental and lyricism for the first song really sets the mood of the entire album. Desolation, the second song starts in mellow guitar strums, then the intensity bit-by-bit gets more violent. This track mirrors the survivor’s complete realization of what really is happening and that the situation they were in is not a dream or a figment of imagination. The shifts of mellow and intense instrumentals support the song’s story so well.
The next songs The Voidsworn, Echo in Eternity, and Final Breath are songs that mostly describes the fear and horrors of the place that the survivor is in. It tells how dark, scary, and how the place was a shared realm with demons and other creatures, casually giving the listeners a full view of the scenery and the situation the survivor is in. The instrumentals produce a spooky atmosphere, as opposed to what other metal songs offer. The band really captured the vibe that they are going for in this album’s concept. And for the conclusion of this album comes Surfacing. The song serves as a perfect-open ending conclusion for this record. In my ears, it even sounded like a march ― either for the survivor or the place they were in, no one knows, and that’s the charm point of this song. There will be a sequel for this album for sure, and that’s what makes it exciting. Oceans & Omens truly are great musicians and storytellers, and they definitely killed it in their first album!
Want to be enticed with Oceans & Omens’ storytelling and sick instrumentals? Make sure to follow their social media accounts and do listen to their works on your favorite streaming platform!
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About the Author
Angel Mariah Rodiel – Mari to the people she’s fond of – is a BA Literature student currently studying in Central Luzon State University. Writing, arts, and music are some of the things she’s been most passionate about ever since she was a kid. Mari’s little dream is to build a band that will open for Paramore’s concert someday. Pop-punk and alternative rock are her comfort music genres, K-pop and J-rock comes close as third and fourth.
