In terms of genre, OCEANSIZE is hard to pinpoint. There’s certainly a lot of progressive rock in there (no matter how often the band denies it – shades of RADIOHEAD), but it’s in the same broad sense as occasional tourmate PORCUPINE TREE. The British quintet likes to play with dynamics in a way similar to what gets categorized as emo, but it’s hardly a gang of overwrought whiners. The band can be heavy, but there’s little here that reeks of heavy metal. Ultimately, Frames comes down to loud guitars, forthright emotional content, shifting arrangements and anthemic melodies. The band’s third album is full of all of the above, deftly navigated and carefully interwoven. Bombast becomes atmosphere just as it gets unbearable; melodies swell just as tracks start to drift. The instrumentation swirls while remaining grounded; frontguy Mike Vennart’s clean voice cuts skillfully through the din. It’s a delicate balancing act, one the group largely pulls off, as evidenced by “Trail of Fire,” “Sleeping Dogs and Dead Lions” and “Commemorative ______ T-Shirt.” It’s not unusual to find power and agility in the same package, but few young bands wield those skills as well as Oceansize.
http://www.oceansize.co.uk
http://www.superballmusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/spvusa
