…And Oceans – As in Gardens, so in Tombs
Origin: Finland
Release: 27.01.2023
Label: Season Of Mist
Duration: 58:27 – including Bonus Tracks
Genre: Symphonic Black Metal
Comeback albums are always difficult. Is the band still up? Can the new material keep up with the old songs? Does it sound the same or – particularly bad for many self-proclaimed scene guards – does the new output sound different? The Finnish veterans of …And Oceans were able to take all these concerns with us in 2020 Cosmic World Mother scatter and have reaped a number of laurels for it.
Now it’s time for the band and their fans to join As in Gardens, so in Tombs to once once more dive into the cosmic forces of symphonic black metal. Or like singers Mathias Lillmåns puts it: “We have always been and always will be a part of the circle of eternal energy; we have always existed and always will exist in some form.” A nice thought.
Deep black and raised
The new record has a proud playing time of almost an hour, if you include the two bonus tracks of the limited editions. Overall set …And Oceans once more on a foundation of partly frenzied, partly atmospheric Black Metal and expand this sound with several keyboard melodies and a pinch of industrial sound.
Even though the band mostly stays in their comfort zone and doesn’t experiment much, they offer As in Gardens, so in Tombs still some variety. The first release Cloud Heads reminiscent of earlier ones Dark Citieslike you HERE can hear for yourself. The same applies to Within Fire and Crystalwhile Carried on Lead Wings with its solemn melodies and blast beats more like scene representatives in the style of Dark Funeral oriented.
frenzy and atmosphere
Overall, more varied songwriting would have done the record good, which is whining on a high level due to the extremely organic mixture of frenzy and atmosphere. The songs are composed coherently and, despite the many references to the symphonic black metal of the turn of the millennium, do not fall into overly obvious clichés. Die-hard genre fans are well catered for and all other metal-savvy listeners will be able to pick their two or three favourites.
Conclusion
…And Oceans continue exactly where they started Cosmic World Mother have stopped. The new album As in Gardens, so in Tombs combines deep black noblesse with whipping outbursts of anger and thus reflects all facets of symphonic black metal. This is of particular interest, but not only for genre fans. 8 / 10
Line Up
Timo Kontio – Guitar
Mathias Lillmåns – vocals
Teemu Saari – Guitar
Pyry Ghanski – Bass
Kauko Kuusisalo – Schlagzeug
Antti Simonen – Keyboard
Tracklist
01. As in Gardens, so in Tombs
02. The Collector and His Construct
03. Within Fire and Crystal
04. Carried on Lead Wings
05. Like Thorns Through Flesh
06. Cloud Heads
07. Wine into Water
08. Inverse Magnification Matrix
09. The Earth Canvas
10. Ambivalent God
Bonus Tracks:
11. The Collector’s Vault
12. Third Eye Catalyst
Links
Facebook …And Oceans
Instagram …And Oceans
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