Texas metal outfit Oceans of Slumber have defied genre classification for over a decade. Now, after signing with Season of Mist, the band is pushing boundaries once again with their upcoming fifth album.
Their latest single, “Where Gods Fear to Speak,” is a prime example. The track throws together elements of melodic death metal, doom, and black metal, laced with subtle electronic flourishes and a healthy dose of Southern Gothic grit.
“We’ve taken the raw and heavier direction of our last two albums and elevated it to the scale of a blockbuster IMAX movie,” says drummer Dobber Beverly, a classically trained pianist who also contributes to grindcore outfit Insect Warfare and black metal veterans Necrofier. This “dark cinematic metal,” as Beverly dubs it, promises a theatrical listening experience.
Watch the video below:
Thematically, the album is inspired by science fiction and fantasy giants like Dune, Blade Runner, and The Dark Tower. However, “Where Gods Fear to Speak” delves into a more personal territory. Singer Cammie Beverly, raised in a household divided between her father’s dedication to a fringe religious group and her mother’s adherence to Jehovah’s Witness teachings, uses the track to explore the disillusionment with organized religion.
“Regardless of which one you believe, organized religion makes us suffer in order to please this heavenly deity,” says Cammie. “But the payoff is only an illusion.” This clash between spiritual promises and earthly hardships fuels the song’s intensity, culminating in a haunting chant that quotes the Book of 2 Corinthians.
The accompanying video reinforces the track’s themes. Cammie is bound in Shibari ropes, a traditional Japanese bondage practice, representing the constraints of religious dogma. However, her powerful vocals, encompassing both bluesy cleans and guttural growls, defy confinement. “I’ve always wanted to do death growls,” says Cammie. “‘Where Gods Fear to Speak’ presented the perfect opportunity. Mixing harsh vocals in with my cleans speaks to that tug of war between pleasure and pain, though there’s a freedom that comes with pushing my voice past its perceived breaking point.”
Ignite the Fire Tour May 2024 w/ Lacuna Coil and New Years Day
May 2 – Wilmington, DE @ The Queen [TICKETS]
May 3 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Stone Pony [TICKETS]
May 4 – Reading, PA @ Reverb [TICKETS]
May 6 – Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa [TICKETS]
May 7 – Charlotte, NC @ The Underground [TICKETS]
May 9 – Daytona Beach, FL @ Rockville Festival [TICKETS]*
May 11 – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl [TICKETS]
May 13 – Ft. Smith, AR @ Temple Live [TICKETS]
May 14 – Wichita, KS @ Temple Live [TICKETS]
May 15 – St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall [TICKETS]
May 17 – Columbus, OH @ Sonic Temple Festival [TICKETS]**
May 19 – Milwaukee, WI @ Milwaukee Metal Fest [TICKETS]*
*Only Lacuna Coil
** No Oceans of Slumber
