AETHERIAL

Even as a pretty active listener, it's not often that I stumble upon an album that defies categorization as much as the debut observation from Oceans of Slumber. Entitled Aetherial, this early 2013 release could loosely be thrown under the 'extreme progressive metal' umbrella, but that does no justice to the sounds created by this young Texan act - everything from jazzy acrobatics and atmospheric progressive rock to lethal sludge riffs and frantic black metal is explored here, and Aetherial's ability to seamlessly blend these diverse soundscapes is breathtaking. The musicianship is remarkably tight across the board, and although the compositions are quite dense, Oceans of Slumber still crafts music that is highly atmospheric and even melodic. Aetherial sounds like the work of true professionals in every sense, serving as even more proof that great music is constantly being released without the help of a record label.