Album Review: Oceans of Slumber – Where Gods Fear to Speak (Season of Mist)

Oceans of Slumber, the dark cinematic metal band are back with a brand-new opus called ‘Where Gods Fear to Speak’. Their Season of Mist debut, and it will be released on September 13th, 2024.

What creative sights does Oceans of Slumber have to share this time around? What direction have they gone in? Who and what has been an influence on the makeup of this record? Where does the fiery metal spark come from after a previous album that was more melodic and progressive?

All that, and so much more, is answered across the ten tracks of Where Gods Fear to Speak and it is up there as one of the band’s best albums. Simply because it combines the best of all parts of this band. Taking their melancholic melodic ways, combining that with their scathing and intense heavy side, then adding in the progressive textures of recent times, and finding new, imaginative ways to blend it all together. This band’s evolution is enough to bring a happy tear to the eye, although that might just be because of vocalist Cammie Beverley’s immense range.

Welcome back Oceans of Slumber! We’re glad to hear you again. Especially when you come armed with heavyweight efforts like the title track. An unexpectedly heavy start, and not just instrumentally (some of the vocal growls will make you shiver), it’s dark, gloomy, weird as hell in places, downright brutal at times, and one hell of an introduction to this album.

The bar is set, but immediately reached with Run from the Light as Oceans of Slumber seem to be focused on letting loose, but pull this one in some really odd directions that grow the cinematic vibes of the band to grander heights. That storytelling side of the band is really beginning to show, but nowhere might that be better shown then with the following gargantuan effort, Don’t Come Back from Hell Empty Handed. A contender for the most extravagant and elaborate track that Oceans of Slumber have ever released. The arrangement of this track, how the instrumentals shimmer and shine, and how the vocals tell a tale, sometimes without lyrics, is gobsmacking.

It’s sensible that to follow that, Oceans of Slumber offer up a more palatable effort in the form of the hauntingly heavy harmony of Wish. Especially as the evolution of this band continues to be expressed with the following epic, Poem of Ecstasy. Proof that Oceans of Slumber are becoming more and more comfortable with melody and making vocalist Cammie’s incredible voice the focal point. This is a track that showcases both the power of her clean singing and the power of her growls, alongside a deep and dark instrumental sound that gets stupendously heavy.

It’s such a creative track on such a creative album from a band that revels in being consistently creative. Hence why we get to enjoy the poignant atmospheric piece that is The Given Dream, the cinematic melodeath-esqe meatiness of I Will Break the Pride of Your Will, and the manic guitar/drum combo of Prayer. Although, again, the vocals and how well shared the styles and voices are here, is unforgettable.

It should be exhausting, but this is an album that continues to inject so much life into the mind, body, and soul, so even with something so deep and stirring as The Impermanence of Fate, vitality runs through the veins. The combination of Cammie’s epic vocals and the evocative ambience is stunning, but how this track develops into something so grand and so heavy sounding is something else completely. One of the most impressive tracks on the album, from a creative standpoint.

To wrap up with a cover might be off putting to some, but in a clever twist on the cover formula, Oceans of Slumber take the Chris Isaak song, Wicked Game, and turn it into a melancholy-laden gothic end credits style piece. It’s a really unique and clever finish, capping off a phenomenal return for this band. They have, once again, delivered something remarkable with this new album.

Oceans of Slumber – Where Gods Fear to Speak Track Listing:

1. Where Gods Fear to Speak
2. Run From the Light
3. Don’t Come Back from Hell Empty Handed
4. Wish
5. Poem of Ecstasy
6. The Given Dream
7. I Will Break the Pride of Your Will
8. Prayer
9. The Impermanence of Fate
10. Wicked Game (Chris Isaak Cover)

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