Album Review: Oceano - Living Chaos
Reviewed by Drew McCarthy
Since the year 2006 Oceano are a band that have been forging their own path in the sometimes over saturated genre of deathcore. This year sees them carrying on in a similar fashion with the imminent arrival of 'Living Chaos'.
It has been seven years since their last album 'Revelation' was unleashed, although the time spent away does not seem to have mellowed or hindered them in any way shape or form. The opening track on 'Living Chaos', 'Wasted Life', is a blistering and caustic statement of intent, which like the other songs on the album, is bolstered by a lustrous and meaty production quality. Alhough this is unsurprisingly an incredibly brutal album, there is a brief respite and a moment of light in the all encompassing darkness. That contrast comes in the form of the otherworldly and dare I say it, beautifully sounding. 'Interlude'.
One thing that impressed me greatly about this album, and all the previous Oceano albums, are the vocals only remaining original member, Adam Warren. Probably not as well known these days as other deathcore vocalists such as Will Ramos of Lorna Shore, Adam gives everything that he has in his vocal performance, his screams and growls prove that he is a formidable vocalist within not just the world of deathcore, but the world of metal as a whole.
'Darkness Rising' is the song that stood out the most on 'Living Chaos', where the lyrics really resonated with me as it deals with a subject that myself and many others have dealt with at one time or another, Depression. The orchestral moments give this song a very moving and melancholic vibe, yet despite this there is a very real sense of determination and integrity to this song, which can be both incredibly poignant and cathartic.
'Living Chaos' is an album that embodies everything that is great about deathcore, incredibly atmospheric, while at the same time creating an oppressive and almost claustrophobic listening experience. The melodic passages found on some of the songs really add a new depth to a genre that in the past may of been considered by some to be one dimensional. With 'Living Chaos' Oceano may of just crafted the best album of their career thus far.
