Dark, turbulent, and above all, incredibly emotional, the new record from Oceans of Slumber is a major kick in the gut for listeners, but one that is executed masterfully.
The third record from the renowned Texas band, The Banished Heart deals with all kinds of emotions, and also transcends musical genre. Although it comes form a place of death/doom heaviness, there is so much going on in the music that is is almost impossible to narrow it down to just one subgenre.
The record’s press release describes the sound and the vibe of this one as “shattered dreams and epic nightmares,” and there is really no better way to sum up what this music conjures. “A Path to Broken Stars” is a personal favorite from the record, pure despair and lot of lovely, interlacing melodies. “Her in the Distance” is another strong track, namely for its use of tone and dynamics to create a heavy, hopeless song that radiates despair.
Overall, this is not an album to pass up if you are in the mood for something as dark and brooding as it is pummeling. A definite recommendation for all heavy doom fans!
