Bringing only the finest of elements from thrash, prog and death metal, Sea of Consciousness‘ self-titled debut album is everything you would expect and then some. It is so full of speed, ideas and finger bleeding riffs. It’s hard to be able to decide on any stand out tracks, opening out with “Sea of Consciousness,” “Misconception” and “From the Ashes” all fitting very much in the technical deathrash metal league. Abuse of speed, aggression and the pedal to the floor attitude all come through from the off, you can’t help but feel pumped up by them! But do not let that fool you; the Dutch band certainly knows how to slow down and lulls you in with a soothing clean passage before another thunderstorm hits your shore.
“Reflections” is along a more melodic death metal vibe, which really show boats the talent after the thrashing of the first three tracks. Bringing in some amazing passages with great finesse, and beautifully harmonies of melodic playing but all with a slight black/death metal feel with clashing chords, yet all still very up and at them with intensity.
“Solitudo” brings the pace down for most of its playtime, but it doesn’t take too long before Sea of Consciousness allow for another death metal attack. The power and dynamic of the song is all in the writing abilities here, and unlike most bands of the similar genre orientation, the music shows some beautiful emotion and travels well and positive throughout.
Sea of Consciousness exhibits unwavering dedication to the metal genre, evident in their debut album’s sonic prowess. With an abundance of skills at their disposal, the band is poised to gather a fan base equally devoted to their craft. If this debut offering serves as any indication, Sea of Consciousness is a band worthy of being on your radar. The potential for grandiose musical endeavors is palpable, and it’s only a matter of time before they unleash something of monumental proportions.
If this debut offering serves as any indication, Sea of Consciousness is a band worthy of being on your radar.