The first problem appears after a few minutes of listening to OCEANS OF SADNESS: how the hell should I manage to describe this multilayer sound universe which seems quite impossible to categorize? Mirror Palace is difficult accessible, but after you get used to it, the songs grab you by the throat.

In the beginning the band acts complex with the opening track Mould: a convenient piano melody goes together with impelling rhythms, in addition Tijs Vanneste’s warm voice - the first four minutes cling felicitously! The album continues in this manner, the following title track Mirror Palace turns out to be sweeping, made to become a highlight in the live program. The slightly choppy rhythm with associated accentuated vocals sticks out; keyboard melodies attach the cherry on the cake. Mentioned voice shapes up as enormous advantage in the repertoire. The sonorous timbre spreads goose-bumps-atmosphere apart from the virtuous keyboard playing. It turns out to be different, no pseudo jingling, but impressive, sometimes freaky jazz-like runs conjuring some whimsically smiles on the reviewer's face.     

Oh, the Hammond organ's sound enjoyably appears in Sleeping Dogs evoking a Deep Purple - like feeling; the composition is again crowned by vocal masterstrokes. Sometimes OCEAN OF SADNESS attach groovy parts to loosen up the sound dominated by breaks and beat changes, just listen to the really cool Intoxicate Me with meanwhile speed attacks.   

The group pays homage to blessedly Alice In Chains using OCEANS OF SADNESS' meat grinding machine on the well known Them Bones displaying an easily accessible track. Afterwards Sheep And Shepherds comes across quite stressfully, nearly every second measure changes take place - no chance to draw breath to recover one's countenance. This is not adapted while motoring I guess… a little pinch of Melodic Death Metal, some piano dots, partly Thrash chords, dreamy passages, rhythmic variability, slight Black Metal bonds are the ingredients OCEANS OF SADNESS use for their finally coherent mixture. The snappy Pride And Shame exhibits a real ear candy and the band runs in more and more acoustic brownie points. One song got the title Silence Is Gold, but so long as the music is assembled that brilliant and impelling I hope this thesis will not be fulfilled.

I like the exceeding music the Belgians perform since their debut For We Are, the progressive claim increased in their career's course. Mirror Palace deserves the terms uncommon and courageous and concurrently your attention. Anyone who engages with the adventure OCEANS OF SADNESS and risks one glance (or even more!) will be rewarded with a detailed piece of music, in my opinion a direct hit! Warning: not appropriate to bang your head - do not accuse me of maybe knotted cervical vertebrae!