FRAMES

Oceansize is my kind of band! From the minute I heard them I knew I would love them. The atmosphere, musichip, melodic propensity, emotional propulsion, etc. was all there. And what a great sound! A fantastic modern blend of alternative rock, metal, and space rock bearing some musical resemblance to Porcupine Tree, Tool and Anathema in sound with a melodical approach similar to Coheed and Cambria, Radiohead and The Dear Hunter. The vocals have a quite soothing sound to them even when the guy is belting. They get kind of lost in the mix occasionally, but they do their job. The music isn't bombastic, but it is very intricate. The band hardly uses your standard time signatures and their arrangements are pretty elaborate, but they never lose focus or memorability.

Frames, the band's third studio album, is a bit less melodic and heavy than their prior releases, but it is no less powerful. In certain aspects, it's easier to get into and in certain aspects it's not. It's easier to get into because the songs have more instantly gratifying moments, which retain their impact after repeated listens, but some of the songs stray from their typical approach so you may have to take a few listens to acclimate to their vision. The sound is generally a bit less melodic as I had stated, but the atmospheres and moods fill those gaps. These songs have more light/heavy contrast within each song, but they may require a bit more patience to click or build to the climaxes. Regardless of how long it takes you to get into this album, those who try will be greatly rewarded.

The highlights for me are the peppy and powerful "Unfamilar," the brooding and climactic "Trail of Fire" and, the proof that Meshuggah could pull off some clean vocals if they put some effort into it, "Sleeping Dogs and Dead Lions."

Oceansize are really gaining momentum with each release. I wouldn't be surprised if they get pretty popular over the next year or two. New fans will have the pleasure of discovering a very impressive catalog! Frames raises the bar again, and currently stands as the band's best effort. Highly recommended!