Album Review: Partholón – The Ocean Pours In (Self Released)

Partholón, The South Coast Irish post-metal band will release their new album, ‘The Ocean Pours In’, on December 15th, 2023. A cathartic journey of life imitating art. From the Mary Russell seafaring tragedy to the death of an ancient tradition, five songs, spanning 37 mins, explore the hearts and minds of those that have come and gone. Married with the legend of Partholón, the tracks explore local history, mythology, tragedy and truth.

Offering up a soundscape that is both freeing and suffocating in equal measures, Partholón combine ethereal atmosphere with coarse heaviness across five epic tracks. The contrast between meticulous melody and emphatic intensity is boundary pushing stuff, and Partholón make the whole album experience one to remember.

Building up anticipation for an eruption of heaviness, Skin of the Beast begins things in measured fashion. So, when an explosion of crashing instruments does come in, it’s all the more startling. Though, it’s not so abrasive that it isn’t effectively listenable, the waves of melody crashing over constantly.

Taking the tone in a much moodier and darker direction, Gathered in Circles then showcases Partholón’s tendencies for elaborating on the post-metal sound. Before Pillars brings forth a cacophony of noise. The immediate slamming of drums and guitars matched only by the scathing vocals. Yet, the real draw of this track is how progressive it feels. Partholón expanding their sonic palette with exhilarating layers of melody and creating constant intrigue for what comes next.

Which just so happens to be a gargantuan Light Chamber. Where the melody lulls the mind into a false sense of security, ready for Partholón to crack it open like an egg with a crunchy blast of heaviness. Eight plus minutes disappearing into the ether in captivating fashion.

Somehow, that track is the not the grandest of all though, as the finale of We Swallow the Ocean pushes Partholón’s creativity to even greater limits. Dripping in atmosphere and oozing emotion, it’s a slow burn finale that has the darkest tone of all the tracks on the album. While also having some of Partholón’s heaviest parts too. The absolute levels this band sinks to, all while keeping a melodious vein running through everything, is so impressive. It’s an amazing closing track on a pretty amazing album overall.

Partholón – The Ocean Pours In Track Listing:

1. Skin of the Beast
2. Gathered in Circles
3. Pillars
4. Light Chamber
5. We Swallow the Ocean

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