Reviewed by Ian Webber

Known for their melodic take on traditional metalcore, this high energy outfit from Fort Worth, Texas return with this album after a six year hiatus. Moving slightly in style to a more attritional and dirty riffing bombast, the album opener, "Let It Wave" is a crushingly heavy track that features aggressive vocals delivered with venom and an anguished edge. After his time as lead singer of Wovenwar, Shane Blay is still the axle around which Oh, Sleeper revolve, stepping back a little on the clean vocals for this outing. Fans of a more melodic sound need not worry however, as some glossy layered choruses are still evident in the likes of "Of Bane And Disease". I could hear elements of "Hush Yael" from 'Children Of Fire' in the ballad "Two Ships" but this track seems too reigned in and safe compared to some of the other cuts on offer. Large sections of the album are given over to chugging rhythms and a slugfest of drums that drive and pound with pace and dynamics. What sets this trio apart from other genre bands are a feast of vocal gymnastics matched with a technical musical edge. Guitar soloing provides just enough variety to lift what could at times be a monotonous rumble. With this, their first full length release in eight years, Oh, Sleeper show us that they have lost none of their metal credentials. They serve up a professional, if a little safe, set of 10 tracks all produced to the highest quality.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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