Silence The Ocean
Broken Vessels
Album Review
metalcore/post-hardcore
release date: November 15, 2014
Silence The Ocean is a hard working modern metalcore/post-hardcore band from Ohio. Broken Vessels is their debut full length album following up their 2013 EP, Changes. With a goal to spread God's love to everyone, they come rare in this day and age among metalcore and post-hardcore bands, while bands lean more towards an open positive world message.
Broken Vessels is a solid release in the midst of a crowded lineup of 2014 releases. Their style has very reminiscent influences of the genre that made this style of music popular: dirty and clean vocals, fun riffs, chuggy breakdowns, clean guitar and bass work, and crisp, precise drumming. And they get right into it with the opening titled track, Broken Vessels. This is an intro track, and as with all good intro tracks, it entices and builds up excitement and curiosity as to what follows. Keys play over atmospheric background music to begin, the instruments kick in continuing the build up, and before you know it, Conner shreds the microphone with screams of "We are broken vessels!" "Make us whole again!" Build up music is still playing a few seconds after Conner's barrage, and then immediately kicks in gear to Dethrone. Personally I feel this song could have been so much more intense, following a heavy intro. It starts off heavy, fast guitars, diverse, and layered screams. Ultimately I think it would have been a more powerful song without the cleans to start off the album, or placed in the middle of the record.
Endless is the third track, and is a notable point on Broken Vessels. It has a beautiful intro, bringing backs memories of old We Came As Romans. Leroy Hamp of War of Ages is featured and appears around midway through the track. The song lyrically talks about how time is ever moving, you can not control it, and every day is a new beginning. Fragile is the fourth song, and it continues on a high note following Endless. Structures follows, and it is probably my personal favorite on the album. It has everything I enjoy in a modern metalcore/post-hardcore album; good use of cleans, enjoyable riffs, a beat to go along with, and a good heavy breakdown or two. The Wolf is the sixth track and is made up of all the familiar elements the album has showed thus far, keeping the albums pace.
Unconditional Love follows up The Wolf. It is strictly a ballad with all clean vocals that is presented with a pop rock feel. Lyrically, as well as the style switch up, the song comes of more as a worship song to God exalting His love for us even though we continually stumble. Personally I am a stickler with bands who have single songs that delve off direction of the rest of the album, and tho i feel it could have been more passionate, the song is a refresher, and a reminder of our brokenness and His ever forgiving love for us. As the song concludes, it immediately picks back up with a very solid song in My Disgrace. Frayed Paths is track nine. This song gives me the vibe it would be a really good live show song, with it's darker feel and mosh friendly breakdowns. Born Machines ends the album in good fashion, fading the album out with beautiful melodies.
Overall Silence The Ocean has the sound as well as the work ethic to really reach people and grow as a band. Broken Vessels has a lot of enjoyable moments. Musically it is filled with beautiful melodies, and it also hits hard. The bass is really enjoyable, crisp, and clear resembling the likes of old Fit For A King, Gideon, and more recently the band Convictions. Most bands the bass goes unnoticed, blending with the guitars, but its presence is felt in Broken Vessels. I do feel the clean vocals could have been utilized differently throughout the album. At times they seemed to miss the emotional mark of the feel of the song at times. But none the less, where the band lacks, their strong suits make up for it. The band has goals they are striving for this year, with possibilities of getting signed and going on tour. Broken Vessels is a good stepping stone in the right direction for them. They are always busy creating new music, and with such passion for God, expect nothing but great things from the boys in Silence The Ocean!
A - [B+]- C - D - F
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