ALBUM REVIEW: OCEANS OF SLUMBER - THE BANISHED HEART
After a three year wait, Texan Prog/Black Metal hybrid Oceans of Slumber return with the follow up to their outstanding sophomore record Winter. As with Winter, lead singer Cammie Gilbert's vocals take the forefront. Passionate and Melancholic, her voice soars above the tracks with ease where most singers would struggle. The soft clean vocals are countered sparingly yet effectively with moments of black metal blast beats and harsh vocals which help to maintain the raw emotion and prevent the record from steering out of control into the road of self indulgence which happens so often with Prog. As with their previous record, The Banished Heart is an ambitious outing with every member proving their worth as an outstanding musician without ever showing off. Once again, Oceans of Slumber have found the perfect balance between technical prowess and atmospheric minimalism.
It may not capture the listeners attention as instantly as Winter, but The Banished Heart is a record that improves with every listen and shows that the Texans are still very much at the Top of their game.
8/10
Personal Highlight: The final track; a magnificent cover of gospel classic Wayfaring Stranger serves as a perfect example of how Cammie Gilbert may be one of the most underrated vocalists of our generation.
