Here is post-hardcore band Being As An Ocean’s sophomore album ‘How We Both Wondrously Perish’. BAAO is hailing from California, USA and was formed in 2011. This album was recorded in Atlanta, Georgia at Glow In The Dark Studios. It was released on May 6, 2014. Their former album ’Dear G-d…’ was released in 2012. To be honest, I never heard that album but I will give it a listen someday. So my review of this album is solely based on ‘How We Both Wondrously Perish’.
Right from the start it is obvious that we are dealing with a whole new concept of hardcore. It starts with a bit Hammond organ like sound in the song ‘Mediocre Shakespeare’ quickly followed by a more melodic hardcore sound. When I listen to this album I hear a variety of styles. We have the obvious screaming and clean vocals, but also spoken words and in between, relaxing sounds with a tranquility that you don’t expect in this type of Music. ‘Death’s Great Black Wing Scrapes the Air’ is a song where we hear a more rocksound in the clean parts. This album is very different from a lot of Music that I listen to like metalcore and hardcore. It is much more delicate, not as brutal as a lot of other bands in this genre. I can imagine that this is not to everyone’s liking, but I like this variety. It is Music that I can relax to, especially in the instrumental parts like the titlesong which is completely instrumental directly followed seamlessly by ‘The Poets Cry for More’ which starts poetically with a spoken word. The same goes for the next song ‘We Drag the Dead on Leashes’ where we also hear a lot of spoken word but in a screamo way.
What strikes me on this record that there is never a dull moment because of all the different elements. I also realise that not everyone likes all the mechanical/electronical sounds, this is really a matter of taste. ‘Grace, Teach Us What We Lack’ is a more mellow song, ballad like, but interspersed with melodic hardcore parts. Johnny O’Hagan of Idlehands features on this song. In the song ‘Mothers’ we even hear a trumpet. This is a song that sometimes touches the jazz genre, no metal in this song at all… weird, but beautifull in it’s own way. Then we have the last song ‘Natures’ which also starts very quiet and mellow, then it slowly builds to a climax which itself is also restrained, don’t expect loud guitars. It reminds me a bit of the band Everything In Slowmotion.
In summary I can say that this album is not for the narrow minded who will only listen to regular typical metalcore or hardcore. (Not hat there is anything wrong with that.) But for everyone who is open to new sounds, or a new wave of hardcore, I can recommend this album wholeheartedly.
Rating: 8/10
Written by: René Woning
Tracklisting:
1. Mediocre Shakespeare
2. Death’s Great Black Wing Scrapes the Air
3. L’exquisite Douleur
4. How We Both Wondrously Perish
5. The Poets Cry For More
6. We Drag the Dead on Leashes
7. Even the Dead Have Their Tasks
8. Grace, Teach Us What You Lack
9. Mothers
10. Natures
Band members:
Joel Quartuccio – lead vocals
Tyler Ross – lead guitar, rhythm guitar
Michael McGough – rhythm guitar, clean vocals
Ralph Sica – bass guitar
Connor Denis – drums
Discography:
“Dear G-d…” (2012)
“How We Both Wondrously Perish” (2014)
Record label: InVogue Records, May 2014
Buy the album here:
Holland: First Paradox
Norway: Nordic Mission
Video below ‘Mediocre Shakespeare’
Video below ‘The Poets Cry for More