Oceano Releases Deathcore Masterpiece ‘Living Chaos’

Oceano, a household name for all legacy and modern deathcore fans, released their first album since 2017, ‘Living Chaos’ on August 31st, 2024. Hailing from Cook County, Illinois, the Deathcore titans had fans speculating about the future state of the band and whether any new material would be made after their 2017 release, ‘Revelation.’

 

Ever since the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, many people flocked to live streaming platforms such as Twitch, both as creators and viewers. Vocalist Adam Warren was one of these creators who found himself carving out a platform of his own during this time. This brought on a new form of fan interaction, as well as exposing any newcomers that discovered his channel outside of his band to listen to Oceano.

 

As the world was slowly adjusting to a “new normal,” whatever that means these days, some fans were pessimistic about any new Oceano material once it had reached around 5 years since their last release. Fans would soon be delighted when the band released ‘Mass Produced’ in August of 2022, which would come to be the first single of the then-unannounced album that would come to be known as “Living Chaos” 2 years later.

 

 

 

 

The first single, which was a great precursor to the rest of the album, included a combination of elements that fans know and expect from the band including the vocal range of Warren’s screams from high to low, brutal and fast-paced rhythm and percussion, as well as spatial elements to add to the overall soundscape. This classic sound combined with the modern, crushing mix and master from Joey Sturgis, a highly esteemed name in the genre, makes this album a fine-dining auditory experience for listeners; from oldheads to newcomers, and everything in between.

 

Before diving into the chaos, the band greets the listener with a warning heeding that they will “face the looming apocalypse head-on.” The opening track “Wasted Life” eases in with a soft instrumental and rainy ambiance that lasts all of 15 seconds until Warren’s signature mid-range shriek braces the audience during its last few seconds of safety before a wall of sound slams the listener with an unrelenting force. This is a beating that will occur throughout the audience, being placed strategically to remind the listener of what they signed up for and to never get too comfortable.

 

Despite the, dare I say, chaotic energy encased into the tracks, it is interwoven with a melodic side of the band that has never been showcased quite like it has until now. The raw talent and artistry of these deathcore veterans shine in all aspects of what makes a great unit of members throughout this album. The first exposure to this balance is showcased in the second single “Wounds Never Healed” which is placed as track 5. Following this is a simply named track, ‘”Interlude,” which will be the first and only calm in the chaos, featuring reverberated guitar serenading the listener and allowing them to let their guard down before immediately plummeting into the hellscape track of “The Price of Pain.”

 

 

 

 

Although the 9-track album clocks in at only 33 minutes, which may seem short for some on paper, in context it serves to be a sweet spot that leaves the listener satisfied without feeling over or underserved; short enough to retain its replayability while not having any moments that feel dragged on.

 

I personally appreciate when artists have the ability to trim fat and refrain from including “fluff” or “throwaway” tracks in order to fill more track time. Whether you have been a long-time fan of Oceano, haven’t checked in with them in a while, or have never heard of them before, if you are a fan of deathcore/deathcore-adjacent heavy music, this album is worth a listen. This album will have a fighting chance of making my personal top 10 AOTY.

 

‘Living Chaos’ is available on all streaming platforms, and give Oceano a follow on Instagram @Oceanometal, on X @Oceanoband, or Oceano on Facebook. Get tickets for their upcoming ‘Living Chaos Tour’ with To The Grave, VCTMS, and HALF ME kicking off in Detroit at The Sanctuary on September 5th.

 

LISTEN TO ‘LIVING CHAOS’ BY OCEANO ON SPOTIFY:

 

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