Album Review: Oceana - The Pattern
Reviewed by Paul Hutchings
They say that everything comes to he who waits. In the case of Rome based trio Oceana, it’s a mere 27 years. The band, who comprise Novembre guitarist Massimiliano Pagliuso (Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards), Gianpaolo Caprino on guitars and drummer Alessandro "Sancho" Marconcini, recorded their first demo back in 1995 which sold out in the underground scene. A debut EP also surfaced before Massimiliano joined the death metallers in Novembre and the band’s momentum slowed. Fast forward over two decades and the time was right for Oceana to return to the studio.
The result is a magnificent 62-minute progressive record that displays numerous styles and influences. There are death growls, clean singing, heavy riffing, high harmonies, vicious riffs, and generous melodies. Oceana are one of those bands where it’s difficult and perhaps more importantly, incorrect to slap a label on. Their music is carefully crafted, displaying a maturity that only comes with time and experience. Whilst this may be a debut, the musicians involved are massively experienced with Pagliuso a veteran of six albums with Novembre and Caprino an active member of Stormlord.
Opening song ‘Hiding Lies’, with its progressive intro that segues into a thrashing maelstrom before a more melodic section with chorus and harmonies sets the bar high. A combination of everything from Opeth to Paradise Lost, Katatonia to Metallica and Dream Theater flooding the aural senses. ‘Fall to Silence’ follows, a gentler and calmer track that sees the band utilising the harmonies to great effect.
Throughout ‘The Pattern’ Oceana utilise the contrast of harsh and clean vocals with a balance that is often missing in metal. ‘Violet’ is a fine example, with the growls just the right tempo. The star track on this mesmerising album is the 14-minute epic ‘Atlántida Suite Part I’. A complex and intricately developed song, this was initially written in 1997 but was never published. 1997’s loss is 2021’s gain. The track ebbs and flows, like Dream Theater at their most majestic, with some searing guitar work underpinned by a gorgeous melody and further juxtaposition of growling and clean vocals. The creative and dexterous interplay is uplifting, the soaring elements raising spirits and demonstrating the quality on display.
The penultimate song is an interestingly robust cover of Metallica’s ‘The Unforgiven’ is musically faithful, although the death growls don’t add anything. Whilst the spiralling ‘You Don’t Know’ is the perfect conclusion to an album that shines from start to finish. With excellent mixing from the world-renowned Dan Swano and an exquisite piece of Travis Smith artwork adorning the cover, this could well be an album that with the right exposure makes a few top ten lists come the end of 2021.
Oceana release 'The Pattern' on January 29th via Time To Kill Records
