It is not every day you come across a band like Being As An Ocean. The Californian genre-benders have always been experts at executing public service announcements in the form of poetic melodic hardcore songs. There are not many artists out there who can consistently put out such lyrically blunt music that still feels more motivational than pessimistic. As their first album to follow the dumpster fire year of 2020, Death Can Wait (Out Of Line Records) is a true test of the band’s longevity in staying true to that defining quality.
With vocalist Joel Quartuccio and vocalist/guitarist Michael McGough as the only remaining official members, any fan’s expectations for this album were up in the air and purely speculative. A reasonable prediction would be to get more of the slow ballad-like and electronic-based hooks from their last record, PROXY: An A.N.I.M.O. Story. Instead, the duo have brought us back in time a decade to the crushing yet uplifting sound of How We Both Wondrously Perish—but with double the riffs, double the heaviness, and triple the in-your-face honesty.
The band could not have written better singles to introduce Being As An Ocean’s new chapter with. “Swallowed By The Earth” set expectations high by being one of their heaviest tracks to date. Shortly after, they sealed the deal with the heartstring-tugging “Flesh And Bone” that throws together everything the band is best at from spine-chilling screams and thundering rhythms to yearnful belts and ethereal guitar lines. Both vocalists come together for the ending lyrics “If you’re lonely, you are loved. If you walk with death, you’re one of us,” making for the perfect wrap-up to one of their most powerful songs yet.
The contrast between Quartuccio and McGough’s vocal styles is impeccable in telling a story while setting the stage for the full emotional spectrum behind it. No matter how hard Quartuccio goes with his heavy vocals, the trademark delicacy of the band’s sound is never lost. This is more apparent than ever in songs such as “Gloom” and the angelic “Paradise In My Mind”, both of which also feature some of the most compelling melodies McGough has ever serenaded with.
In tracks like “The Fullness Of My Mind” and “…Gave It A Voice So That My Heart Could Speak” Quartuccio delivers his spoken word like more of a raspy chant, which fits in faultlessly whether accompanied by tranquil guitar ambience or imminent drum beats. He then unleashes some of his most moving screaming abilities, undertoning McGough’s soaring melodies for a monumental effect.
Death Can Wait is the album longtime fans have been waiting for, and is sure to go down in history as one of their most renowned classics. Bold and straightforward yet dynamic and thought-provoking, this is Being As An Ocean at their best.
Buy the album here:
https://baao.lnk.to/DeathCanWaitAlbum
9 / 10
COLLEEN KANOWSKY