EVERYONE INTO POSITION

I walked past this album a myriad of times during the past two months or so, always wondering what the group actually sounds like. What got me interested in Oceansize was the review given to this album in Mojo of a month or so ago... Four stars? I thought.

There have been very few times that I've done a 'blind buy' of an album, but I can assure you that is by far the best one I've ever done. At times malancholy, at times intense and really 'in your face' with their three guitar assualt, and at times soaring above the clouds with massive instrumentals, Oceansize have earned their place in anyone's music collection. Those of you who are hardcore prog-rockers need to be careful, though: these guys do their own thing, and are certainly not trying to claim a place among the Mars Volta's and Spock's Beards' of our time. While there certainly is a taste of prog present here, they are happy to utilize whatever influences they might have in order to reach the goals they've set for themselves on each of these songs, most notably Tool and NIN.

I would label this album a supreme slice of 'trip-rock'. Anyone who likes to be consumed by an album from start to finish will love Oceansize. They are skilled, they are intelligent, and - most of all - they are GOOD at what they do.