Release
date: April
17th
2020. Label: Argonauta
Records.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Den
Tredje Dagen – Tracklisting
1.
Den Tredje Dagen
2.
Hyllningen
3.
Dömd
4.
Den Sista Resan
5.
Dimension 5h
Members
Tobias
Larsson
Björn
Andersson
Christian
Sandberg
Magnus
Linhardt
Review
This
is a very nice surprise, indeed. Things have been very quiet over at
the Ocean Chief camp to the extent I thought they had buried their
hatchets and let the Valkyries guide them to Valhalla. After all,
it's been 6 long crazy since Ocean Chief last album, the excellent,
'Universums
Härd'.
And we certainly need their bottom-heavy, remorseless and unforgiving
sludgy doom in the crazy times we now live in. Especially since the
new album, 'Den
Tredje Dagen',
is so fucking great!
Already
in the opener, 'Den
Tredje Dagen',
the title track,
Ocean
Chief makes it clear that they aren't playing around. Slow, imposing
and crushing just the way this band have been and always should be.
The only difference from before is that they are even more immersed
in what they want to do and how to sound. They've nurtured their past
and let it mature for six years and the end-result is explosive
already after the first song. Next out is ‘Hyllningen’
which, in its almost 12 minutes, starts out minimalistic, eerie and
forlorn. Slightly slower than the predecessor the pace increases
somewhat, but not much, and moves back and forth perfectly with
what’s going on in the song.
‘Dömd’
follows and holds on to the tempo of ‘Hyllningen’.
However, it is even more punishing than the two previous
compositions. ‘Dömd’,
sentenced in English, really brings forth the anguish of being
sentenced either to banishment from you village and clan or death,
where the former is far worse in the worship of the Norse Gods than
losing your life. The torment the antagonist goes through here is
palpable and probably my favourite track. Clocking in at over 15
minutes it shows another great trait by the band. They know how to
keep everything interesting and captivating through long compositions
and that is rare.
The
LP version ends with the ethereal and peaceful, ‘Den
Sista Resan’.
Instrumental and serene it follows the antagonist on the final
journey after death to wherever his last resting place will be. By
far the least brutal and punishing song on the album, in fact, it has
a very calming effect on the listener. ‘Dimension
5’
rounds out the CD version and for long spells it follows ‘Den
Sista Resan’.
There are parts where the bone crushing intensity comes to the fore
but keeping with the other track it is like our antagonist is
marveling at his final destination. Fear and joy run amok with in
him.
The
way the title track opens this fantastic album up is indicative how
the rest of the songs play out. They are all brutally heavy,
completely or in parts, of course with the exception of ‘Den
Sista Resan’,
with subtle changes here and there. And that’s a big part of Ocean
Chief’s beauty. As hypnotic and punishing as they can be, the guys
know when to break the spell suddenly and immerse the listener in all
the forces of the Allfather, Odin. And there’s nothing you can do
but to let everything run its course and let the music work its magic
on you. Absolutely fantastic, guys…..and welcome back. You’ve
been sorely missed!
Words
by Håkan Nyman
Thanks
to Mona at All Noir PR for the promo:
Den
Tredje Dagen is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via ArgonautaRecords from
April 17th
2020.
Links:
