ITP V.023 REVIEW: ...AND OCEANS: "AS IN GARDENS, SO IN TOMBS"

 

BAND:..AND OCEANS (FINLAND)

GENRE:  BLACK METAL

LABEL: SEASON OF MIST

 RELEASE DATE: 1/27/2023

TITLE: "AS IN GARDENS, SO IN TOMBS"  

   PREVIOUS RELEASES (CATALOG): 

"COSMIC WORLD MOTHER", 5/8/2020 via SEASON OF MIST.

"..AND OCEANS" (EP), 5/14/2019 via NECROGOD RECORDS. 

SPLIT WITH HAVOC UNIT " DISCIPLINE UPON MANKIND", 8/5/2007 via SONIC SUPERNONA

SPLIT WITH HAVOK UNIT, THE SIN: DECAY", 3/24/2007 via VENDLUS RECORDS. 

"COLLATERAL DAMAGE: COMPLETE WAR SERIES: (SPLIT WITH SETH, BETHZAIDA, CULTUS SANGUINE, BLOODTHORN, ANATA).

"CYPHER", 6/17/2002, CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS. 

"A.M.G.O.D.", 2/19/2001 CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS. 

"THE SYMMETRY OF 1, THE CIRCLE OF 0", 10/1/1999 via SEASON OF MIST. 

"WAR VOL. 1", (SPLIT WITH BLOODTHORN), 8/1/1998 via SEASON OF MIST. 

"THE DYNAMIC GALLERY OF THOUGHTS", 1/1/1998 via SEASON OF MIST. 

 

 

 

 

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BEST RELEASE(S):  "THE DYNAMIC GALLERY OF THOUGHTS" (1998), "THE SYMMETRY OF 1, THE CIRCLE OF 0" (1999), "COSMIC WORLD MOTHER" (2020)

 

..AND OCEANS:  "AS IN GARDENS, SO IN TOMBS"  TRACK LISTING: 

1.  "AS IN GARDENS, SO IN TOMBS"

2. 'THE COLLECTOR AND HIS CONSTRUCT"

3. "WITHIN FIRE AND CRYSTAL"

4. "CARRIED ON LEAD WINGS"

5. "LIKT TORNEN GENOM KOTT"

6."WINE INTO WATER"

7. "CLOUD HEADS"

8. "INVERSE MAGNIFICATION MATRIX"

9. "THE EARTH CANVAS"

10. "AMBIVALENT GOD" 

 

ITP RATING: **** 1/2 (four and half out of 5 stars)

PRODUCTION:****

SONGWRITING: **** 1/2

PERFORMANCE: ****1/2

...AND OCEANS are a Finland based black metal band founded in the 90's. ...AND OCEANS are poineers of melodic black metal and have dabbled in experimental and electronic realms.

...AND OCEANS: "AS IN GARDENS, SO IN TOMBS" is a return to form, pure melodic black metal ripe with blast beats, demonic riffing and light keyboards. 

..AND OCEANS  "AS IN GARDENS, SO IN TOMBS" evokes an EMPEROR feel with light keyboards, melodic riffing, great songwriting and prominent blast beats. 

.AND OCEANS  'THE COLLECTOR AND HIS CONSTRUCT" features a prominent synth riff coupled by a melodic, folk metal riffing with different time changes. At 2:45,  'THE COLLECTOR AND HIS CONSTRUCT" segues into a tom bang, and some overall exquisite drumming as the band go the fast route bringing upon memories of old DIMMU BORGIR. 

AND OCEANS "WITHIN FIRE AND CRYSTAL" features excellent songwriting and musicianship with accessible riffing.At 2:44, "WITHIN FIRE AND CRYSTAL" slows down before taking off into oblivion. 

AND OCEANS "CARRIED ON LEAD WINGS". features a prominent synth segued into beautiful melodic riffs swirling together in a brutal maelstrom.  

AND OCEANS "LIKT TORNEN GENOM KOTT" kicks off with a synth solo and takes off like a bat out of hell into oblivion. "LIKT TORNEN GENOM KOTT" is raw, fast and brutal, exploring heavier and electronic territory while creating dark atmospheres. 

AND OCEANS  "WINE INTO WATER" is both majestic and beautiful featuring experiments in electronics and a harrowing melodic riff.

 AND OCEANS  "INVERSE MAGNIFICATION MATRIX" features majestic heaviness and a spooky break backed by a brief EBM excursion. "INVERSE MAGNIFICATION MATRIX" features  over laying synths as they add an atmosphere of beauty in darkness.  

 AND OCEANS "THE EARTH CANVAS" is an anthem of darkness segued into caldron of great melodic riffing with folk influences. .   

..AND OCEANS  "AS IN GARDENS, SO IN TOMBS" closes with "AMBIVALENT GOD"  featuring a beautiful melodic riff with slower tempos. The ethereal synth/piano break ending the track is so dramatic.   

 

 ..AND OCEANS  "AS IN GARDENS, SO IN TOMBS" is symphonic black metal at its finest. Melodies take center stage to light keyboard atmospherics.. The songwriting featured on AS IN GARDENS, SO IN TOMBS"  is top notch resulting in beautiful hell rides of melodic bliss segued into utter brutality. 

It doesn't get any better than  ..AND OCEANS  "AS IN GARDENS, SO IN TOMBS", and although it's still early in 2023, for your consideration for Album Of The Year 2023. .

  

 

ITP RATING: **** 1/2 (four and half out of 5 stars)

PRODUCTION:****

SONGWRITING: **** 1/2

PERFORMANCE: ****1/2

 

 ..AND OCEANS:  "AS IN GARDENS, SO IN TOMBS":

https://spak-individualthoughtpatterns.blogspot.com/2023/01/and-oceans-post-new-release-as-in.html 

 

 

ITP V.023 REVIEW: ...AND OCEANS: "AS IN GARDENS, SO IN TOMBS" by INDIVIDUAL THOUGHT PATTERNS V.023 (THERESA GETELES) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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