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Being As An Ocean

How We Both Wondrously Perish

Written by: MBC on 05/05/2014 23:54:43

California-based quintet Being As An Ocean was formed in 2011 and released its incredible debut album “Dear G’d” only a year after. That album was an emotionally raw and powerful display of melodic hardcore that set the bar high for the band’s sophomore album which is out this month. “How We Both Wondrously Perish” follows the path laid out on the debut nicely, but does not quite reach its potential. One thing that makes Being As An Ocean great is the band’s passion. Every song is brimming with emotion and a great sense of integrity which comes through both musically and lyrically in this melancholic and melodic form of hardcore. While continuing the style of “Dear G’d”, this new album is not quite as dark in tone and some changes in the band’s musical delivery have been made as well.

With the addition of new guitarist Michael McGough (The Elijah) the band has experimented with a lot more melody than previously. Frontman Joel Quartuccio is still doing a combination of screamed vocals, clean singing and spoken word and he still sounds incredible. This time around he is aided by McGough’s clean vocals as well. Their voices sound beautiful together and complement each other very well. Highlights of this vocal approach are for instance the songs “Death’s Great Black Wing Scrapes The Air” and “L’exquisite douleur” that show off the talents of both men. As a result of McGough’s entrance to the band, more emphasis has been put on the melodic vocals in general and Quartuccio’s screams are less prevalent than on the last album.

These changes take a little while to get used to, but the band has kept their core foundation of emotional, melodic hardcore intact and luckily this new album is not too much of a departure, although overall it is less raw and not quite as emotionally powerful as "Dear G'd". The lyrics are still beautiful and poetic depictions of faith, despair, hope, pain and awareness are found throughout. Much of the lyrical content is based on Quartuccio’s Christian views and much like on “Dear G’d” there are quite a few references to God and Christ. Regardless, a lot of his lyrics have universal themes such as how we treat each other which should appeal to people outside of the Christian faith as well. Check out for instance this excerpt from “Death’s Great Black Wing Scrapes The Air”: “It's up to us to hold each other’s dignity, recognize we've chosen the wrong enemy. Hate, ignorance and inhumanity are what we should be battling. Now's the time for knowledge, now's the time for truth”.

“How We Both Wondrously Perish” is a good album from an excellent band.

Download: Death’s Great Black Wing Scrapes The Air, L’exquisite douleur, Even The Dead Have Their Tasks, Grace, Teach Us What We Lack
For the fans of: The Elijah, Defeater, Emarosa
Listen: Facebook

Release date 06.05.2014
InVogue Records / Impericon Records