Oceans of Night: Mindstorm

Oceans of Night, the American progressive metal band, returns with their latest album, Mindstorm. Formed in 2005, the band has undergone lineup changes, with the current members being main composer and mastermind Scott Mosher (guitar, bass, keyboards), Alan Smithee (drums and percussion), Scott Oliva (vocals), and guest vocalists April Rach, and Pablo Zuccalá.

Mindstorm showcases the band's signature blend of heavy guitar-synth driven soundscapes, often reminiscent of video game music. When instrumental, the music shines, but when accompanied by vocals, it loses focus and becomes less engaging.

Standout tracks like "Before the Fall" and "Vast and Infinite" demonstrate a Queensrÿche influence, specifically from the Todd La Torre era. The latter features a beautiful, dark melody with human-sounding bass lines that enhance the excellent guitar work by Scott Mosher.

However, the programmed-sounding drums detract from the album's goodness, particularly in tracks like "Closer to The Edge", which veers towards Alternative Metal/Post Grunge instead of Progressive Metal.

Instrumental tracks like "Obelisk" and "Vast and Infinite" showcase the band's strength, with guitars and keys delivering memorable melodies. The dark and enigmatic output, characteristic of the band's history, is evident in "Man Clothed in the Light of the Sun" and the title track "Mindstorm", featuring female vocals.

Scott Mosher’s fondness for electronic music is apparent in tracks like "Servants Of Shadow/New Dawn" and "No Turning Back", with electronic intros setting the mood. The epic "Mictlantecuhtli" again showcases Mosher’s talented guitar work, with heavy riffs, melodic licks, and tailored solos blending with modern electronic keyboard lines.

Overall, Mindstorm is a cool listen, appealing to fans of Progressive Metal who enjoy instrumental and softer aspects of the genre, with crossover elements from modern rock music… cheers!

Track Listing:
1. Servants of Shadow/New Dawn (4:52)
2. Before the Fall (3:39)
3. Siren (5:30)
4. Vast and Infinite (6:11)
5. Closer to the Edge (4:09)
6. Obelisk (5:49)
7. Man Clothed in the Light of the Sun (4:14)
8. Mindstorm (5:46)
9. No Turning Back (9:13)
10. Miclantecuhtli (4:03)
11. Distant (4:06)
12. Event Horizon (4:02)

Added: September 5th 2024
Reviewer: Jose Antonio Marmol
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 503
Language: english

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