The straightforward answer for fans of Being As An Ocean is that, yes, if you love How We Both Wondrously Perish, you will absolutely be thrilled with their new self-titled full-length. The passion and power behind every note in every song is palpable expressing a range of emotion from anguish to hope over the expanse of the record. Instrumentation is consistently interesting and exciting especially when the vocals cease to be the driving force of the song.
It’s genuinely impressive how this band can go from the calm almost pop ballad intro of “Judas, Our Brother” to the absolute beast of chaos and noise such as the last half of “The Zealot’s Blindfold.” For a band with a massively energetic and entertaining live show, these songs will only add to the power of their show. But while the band has definitely progressed from their last full length, some of the same issues remain.
Being As An Ocean has an ear for interesting soundscapes, which is an excellent talent and on full display through the record, but occasionally these sections are so different from what transitions to it that it throws the song for a weird emotional loop that takes away from the momentum built up until that point. For instance, during the song “Sleeping Sicarii,” immediately following the chorus, a spectacular riff and drum fill come in and transition the song to a beautifully done layered vocal section that sound like the musical equivalent of waves in a hurricane. While I absolutely adore both sections, together with that transition, they feel awkward making the song feel inconsistent not only musically, but somewhat in it’s meaning. This also happens with certain spoken word sections where they feel almost unexpected and unnatural.
Another issue is that the lyrics do not accurately portray the complexity of the emotions expressed. There are the occasional moments of originality that hit all the right spots, but I found often that the lyrics felt more generic and too broad to really create an impact on their own without the expertly done way they are performed and presented to the listener. Regardless, the performances through the record are what instills the emotion through the record.
All in all, Being As An Ocean is releasing a good album that current fans will cherish and new listeners will find themselves drawn to. The band is certainly passionate about what they do and what their message is and this is highly commendable. While the music and lyrics sometimes fail to reach the same level of excellence, the energy and emotion of the songs helps to propel the record forward to the next truly excellent section. Being As An Ocean is a band that’s only improving what they already do well and definitely a band to give a listen to if you’ve ever been curious.
Tracklist:
1. Little Richie
2. Ain't Nobody Perfect
3. The Zealot's Blindfold
4. Sleeping Sicarii
5. Judas, Our Brother
6. Saint Peter
7. Forgetting Is Forgiving The I
8. The World As A Stage
9. Sins Of The Father
10. ...And Their Consequence
RIYL: La Dispute, Defeater
Rating:
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