CoC : ...And Oceans - The Dynamic Gallery of Thoughts : Review

...And Oceans - _The Dynamic Gallery of Thoughts_
(Season of Mist, 1998)
by: Pedro Azevedo (7 out of 10)

Although the band name and album title don't give many clues, one might guess that whatever the style found in _TDGoT_, it would be very likely to have a strong atmospheric component. As a matter of fact, however, the album isn't very atmospheric; this is mid-to-fast paced black metal with plenty of keyboards, sometimes resembling Dimmu Borgir's _Enthrone Darkness Triumphant_, but without much of the doom that is one of _EDT_'s main qualities. The keyboard melodies tend to be simple and easy to follow, and, if not much else, at least usually effective. The production is clean and well balanced (somewhat similar to Legenda's _Autumnal_ in some ways, both having been recorded in the Tico-Tico studio, in Finland), and the band performs competently throughout the album. The major problem here is a certain lack of outstanding moments (since their sound, by itself, isn't innovative); most of the album is very enjoyable and well done, but not exactly mindblowing. The result is therefore an album that is unlikely to be a clear disappointment for someone who enjoys, for example, Dimmu Borgir, but equally unlikely to become that person's favorite album.

(article published 1/9/1998)

CHATS
12/8/2000	A Wasylyk	...And Oceans: Scandinavian Domination

ALBUMS
16/3/2003	A McKay	5.5	...And Oceans - Cypher
9/12/1999	A McKay	8	...And Oceans - The Symmetry of I, the Circle of O

GIGS
13/5/2001	M Noll	Marduk / Mortician / Vader / God Dethroned / Amon Amarth / Mystic Circle / Sinister / ...And Oceans / Bal Sagoth	Baptized by Fire and Beer