THE REMNANTS OF LOSING YOURSELF IN SOMEONE ELSE

Featuring members out of Sydney and Melbourne GLASS OCEAN is a prog outfit with a really distinctive sound. Initiated by Tobias Atkins (vocals) and Nic Petterson, who also plays the drums for a metalcore band named Northlane. Following a debut EP some years ago this album is their first full-length appearance, released in Summer 2020. Now here Petterson surprisingly has stepped down from the drumming task, remains as a co-writer though anyhow. Thus the current quintet is completed by Eamonn Wooster on the bass, the two guitarists Julian Dobric and Nguyen Pham, as well as new percussionist Patrick Smith.

'The Remnants Of Losing Yourself In Someone Else' - well, like it is in most cases, this thematically shows up a mystery, a rather complicated issue at least, right? Furthermore, I guess Atkins' presence might be somewhat controversial for one or two. He's unique for sure, has a throaty and charming voice at once somehow, a bit narrative styled. Hey, when it comes to me, this appeals. I really like that. It complements the compositions, the sentimental vibe all over. The delivery is a heartfelt and soulful atmosphere all over. Exemplarily I would point out the beautiful Asteroid Blue or Self And Sacrifice.

Anyway, for some time I was inclined to complain about too much lack of diversity concerning the nearly fourty minutes running time. Though if one occasionally breaks away from the dominant emotive voice, a better sense of the song structure, the rhythms, those ebbs and flows, and the instrumental impact comes up. It takes time of course. For example on Pride or Bolero there's some Talk Talk appeal given on one hand. Heavy grooves otherwise, even metal sentiment on Beyound US or Almaida closer to the likes of Karnivool or Anathema.

'Ever felt like you're not in control?' - just wanted to hightlight my current favourite Divide finally. I'm always forced to singalong here. Surely a recommendation, this one. With 'The Remnants Of Losing Yourself In Someone Else' the GLASS OCEAN crew is offering a rounded and consistent album, with a minor blemish of sounding a bit too one-dimensional. What remains in any case, regarding the next album, the one step to a masterpiece probably, there's still room for improvement, for more surprises, edges and corners.

Glass Ocean were formed in Sydney in the summer of 2013, by vocalist Tobias Atkins and Northlane drummer Nic Petterson. Over the years they have released a few EP's, and there have been the normal set of line-up changes, so much so that they now have bases in both Sydney and Melbourne (for the non-Aussie, the two cities are nearly 900 km apart by road). The line-up on this their debut album is Tobias (vocals) and he is now joined by Patrick Smith (drums), Eamonn Wooster (bass), Nguyen Pham (guitar) and Julian Dobric (guitar). Nic may no longer be in the band, but he co- wrote 6 of the 11 songs on offer.

This is an album which revolves around the vocals, with the instrumentation always driving the ear towards the voice of Tobias, which is somehow tuneful yet also distinct and sometimes sharp, sometimes flat. They describe themselves as alt-prog, and while I am loath to give credence to yet another sub-genre I can see where they are coming from. Me, I would call this crossover with some serious pop sensibilities: there are lots of effects and resonance on the guitars, so much so that one never misses the keyboards, as to be honest there just would not be enough room within the arrangement. There are elements of Porcupine Tree, some of Muse, and if someone booked these guys to play with Outside In, I think fans of both would find they also have quite a bit in common. This is a good album, but not great, in that it all feels very much at one level which is obviously down to the production, but seeing as how this was produced, mixed and mastered by Chris Blancato (also Northlane) I presume this is exactly what the band wanted. I would prefer to hear more dynamics and variance within the overall sound, but overall this is a modern progressive rock album which is certainly worth investigating further.