Album Review: Oak – Disintegrate (Season of Mist)

Oak is a mysterious tree which keeps on growing, clawing their roots into the scorched earth while unleashing their giant ‘Disintegrate’ on this earth via record label Season of Mist. Marvel at it on February 10th, 2023.

You won’t find many bands showcasing their depth and imagination in quite the same way that Oak does. While based within death and doom, Oak transcend genre limitations and prove that they stand alone in what they do with Disintegrate. A two-track album, presented as one, it lasts a handful of seconds short of 45 minutes. If that doesn’t make you salivate, nothing will.

Unsurprisingly, this is an epic. A layered, methodical, and inventive epic. Beginning in immensely subtle and warming fashion before Oak unleash a cacophony of doomy and death-infused heaviness. The crashing of mighty instruments, the weight pushing down to the point of broken bones. The alleviation only coming when Oak drop away into melody again.

Take that chance for a deep breath though, as the atmosphere deepens, and Oak allow the senses to recover. The roar of guttural vocals, winding guitar tones, and pounding drumbeats drop the mind into darkness again. The slow and measured evolution of this track continues to amaze as the 10-minute mark is reached.

As it goes on, it starts to feel more and more threatening as even the tone shifts have less melody, and the vocals continue to roar with unabashed intensity. Yet, the excitement to experience every faucet of it, is ever prevalent. It’s necessary to immerse yourself in this and the pull to do so, is hard to deny.

Peaks and valleys, highs and lows, warmth and chill, light and dark… back and forth Oak go. The drawn-out doomy vibe meshing incredibly well with their more horrific death-based heaviness. Covered with a thick coat of burdening atmosphere contrasted by effective touches of melodious instrumentation. At the halfway point and beyond, it continues to blow minds. Especially when the second ‘act’ kicks in, highlighted by some of the most relaxing ambience heard on the record so far.

Leading into some of the most intense vocals and uncomfortable guitar sounds heard so far. Oak’s methodical process enhanced by prominent bass and a dedication to making this part of the song sound the most discomforting. It really does work too.

It’s an exhausting experience but it never drags, and by time most have reached the 35-minute mark, most will be heavily invested and more than willing to see it through. A worthwhile experience as the final portion of the album sees the track wander off into moody and verbose locales. Effective, not without charm, and as delightful as every other second of the track.

Links

Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Season of Mist