A long hiatus and here we are again, sailors! The world continues to turn and we move forward navigating through the “multiverse of music” to brave the latest frontiers of releases, and today I resume my reviews with the Norwegians from Bergen ONCE AWAKE, and their eponymous album released independently on November 23, 2022, by the way, here’s the suggestion for contracting frontiers (A&R’s, come on!), these guys deserve a little more, don’t you think?
Maybe ONCE AWAKE is not a new name sounding to European ears, after all the guys performed at the very first Knotfest live streaming festival ‘Pulse Of The Maggots’ alongside some good ones like Orbit Culture and Vended, added to that is also the third album “Bridgeburner” released in 2020 which brought some international recognition, this all during the pandemic, but if we think a little more outside the box then there is a lot of information to provide yet, these astute lads have been spinning non-stop on the scene since the early 2000s in a frenetic mix of the wave of American bands with the epitome of Norwegian melodic death metal for which the country became embedded in the metal scene, and this is without a doubt one of those bands where structure is something formidable, yes, because while I still come across aspiring rock star dreaming of a fantasy career these guys here are down to earth and have a really strong sense of responsibility.
Hans, Frode, Ørjan and Andrè are a troupe that strive to deliver a good product to the listeners and take it seriously, everything is absolutely chewed up and available to the public and that’s great, on top of all that the band keeps so solid and united in these years, for me it sounds almost like a miracle among so many that change members every month. But, but, let’s put past aside for a bit and focus on the present, after all we are here to talk about the fourth album and “Once Awake” already arrived with beautiful and straight cover art on 11 tracks with a total of little more 45 minutes, and we’ll pause at this point to say, “My Deed” becomes a sharp can opener kicking off the album, and to top it off the band even released the official video, so don’t delay to check it out!
“My Deed” is a chunky track of dense guitars and frantic drums, the vocals may still be very core-line but mind you, we’re not talking about boys here, the vocal structure is intense and mature, all the instrumentation sounds crystal clear and the production sounds elaborate enough to make us look forward to discovering what we’re going to find next.
I don’t need to spoil anyone, I recognize good work when I hear it and “Bury Your Soul” exposes this even more, another fast and explosive track, steeped between metalcore and a kind of “modern death” metal, ONCE AWAKE becomes alchemistic and plays with layers and elements, “Meet The Maker” just continues the course despite sounding more like a sequel than a new track and “Crown” doesn’t differ much from that. You see, ONCE AWAKE is the type of band with strong fists, as I said, well structured, although this I miss a little daring, we need to be honest, sometimes you need to go a little further.
I remember listening to a cover of P.O.D that ONCE AWAKE recorded not long ago, it made me remember how hybrid some bands can become and it makes us want to categorize them into just one genre, that’s where we end up getting lost, after all, at what point do alternative metal, nu metal, metalcore and melodic metal get so far apart when musicians put everything together in a blender and mix it up without caring? Follow for example “Ashes of an Enemy” or “Blinded to Remind” and try to define them! But most importantly, “Once Awake” is an honest and carefully composed album, heavy in proportion and full of quality, even if there’s not as much adrenaline or surprises along the way it still sounds certainly fair, the kind you can listen all day without disturbing. Everything is where it should be and you can hear every member and instrument clearly without difficulty. What I can conclude is that this band has been on the road for a long time and has followed a good path, maybe the next step? Have you ever heard that a diamond needs to be polished? It defines everything! Anyway don’t let these guys go unheard, they work hard, babe! They work hard!
Highlight for “Trudelutt” and “Sculpture“.
RATE: 8,5/10
RELEASE – November 23rd, 2022
TRACK LISTING
1. My Deed
2. Bury Your Soul
3. Meet the Maker
4. Crown
5. Ashes of an Enemy
6. Sculpture
7.B linded to Remind
8. Alive
9. Shadows Ascend
10. Trudelutt
11. 585 (Essen, Germany 2022 Live)
LINEUP
Frode Hennø – Vocal
Hans Petter Solen – Guitar
Ørjan Paulsen – Drums
Andrè Kongestøl Solberg – Guitar
RELATED LINKS
SPOTIFY – “Once Awake” (2022)
