It is not easy to immediately know what to expect from a band simply by their name. And the myriad of band names containing some variant of ocean or other bodies of water have very much thrown down the gauntlet in terms of expectation. From the black metal of ...AND OCEANS, the gothic LAKE OF TEARS, this Austrian / German quartet OCEANS have appeared to fly the nu metal flag for the 2020s. Of course, that's not to be confused with the German band THE OCEAN. Who knew water was so metal!? (Note to self: start a grindcore band called Ponds Of Desolation!)

A little teasing aside, OCEANS are considered rising stars in some circles. And with this latest EP following their recent signing to Nuclear Blast Records, it is easy to see why. The band are following up 2021's "We Are Not Okay" with a set of previously released singles and a brand-new track, "Skin" all under the guise of "Hell Is Where The Heart Is Vol. I Love" The EP opens with "Love", a wholly ominous spoken word intro accompanied by a droning synth. If this was an attempt to darken the overall sonic image of the EP, it does actually work quite well. It sets the tone perfectly, signifying that this is a darker take on the nu-metal genre. The first real track, "Awakening" attempts to use almost every nu-metal cliché made popular by the forefathers of the 1990s. While cliché may be a dirty word for some, none of it is unwelcome or overused or to poor effect. Absolutely nothing offended my sensibilities from a material perspective. Minimal use of synths to amplify the key signature of this piece works very well and are far from overbearing. This was a great opener with a catchy chorus and great use of expression throughout.

"Sulfur" is by its very design an angry, stomping and relentless experience. This is a complete contrast to the EP's opener with some very choice lines. I mean, how much more angst-ridden and heated can you get than screaming "I hope you die you stupid f*ck" can you get? Replete with it's fairly standard nu-metal type slow moment, the track reopens with the very catchiness this genre has built in by design. The track signs off with a rather desolate piano outro, appearing to make good on the intro track's ("Love") promise of ominousness. This is very much the stand out track here and shouldn't be missing from the playlist of even the most passing of nu-metal sympathizers.

"Skin" is the newcomer to the OCEANS repertoire. Slower, more subdued and wandering than the preceding tracks, it changes rather abruptly to a heavy, slamming chorus that seems quite far removed before returning to the quiet verse formula. "Skin" makes use of the typical array of dynamics demanded by the genre to great effect. The overall result is a more touching and emotive track compared to the heaviness and speed shown previously. While it would be very lazy to call vocalist Timo Rotten a caricature of Jonathan Davis of KORN, it is very apparent that he draws some influence in a lot of sections, especially when using some of the away-from-the-mic anguish shouts. It isn't something we haven't heard before all the way back on KORN's self-titled album, but it does evoke enough pleasant nostalgia to give him a pass! But, if I were to pay Timo Rotten a huge compliment, it would be to align him as near to a nu-metal incarnation Tomi Joutsen of AMORPHIS that you can get whilst still retaining the typical vocal style one would expect of the genre. He is extremely versatile. Everything sounds convincing and well performed and contains a very unique timbre that in time I am sure will mark him as being prominent.

But if I were to poke a little hole, it would be down to production. And it comes down to that nu-metal trait of often over-emphasizing that clacky bass guitar sound. I feel it is a little much here and would have had me reaching for that fader to notch it down a touch. Understand that Thomas Winkelmann is by every means an excellent and proficient bass player given the performance here, but there were times I found that this nu metal cliché of clacky bass far too noticeable! This was definitely apparent on my car speakers, while my hifi had me reaching for the EQ section - something I usually disable auditioning music for review. Rather than mentioning that K word again, I would certainly put OCEANS on a par with the higher shelf nu metal bands that have preceded them. The songwriting and overall sonic aesthetic isn't too far removed from ORGY, DEFTONES or even STAIND (albeit without that dreary self-pity). Maybe that's showing my age, but the nu metal genre has plenty mileage left in it and a band taking the better elements of legacy nu-metal and improving on it is no bad thing. OCEANS seem to be taking that notion and running with it.

Overall, OCEANS have released a great EP here although it isn't very long at only 12 minutes 50 seconds. Hopefully their new signing to Nuclear Blast will bring a full length release into view in the short term. But if "Hell Is Where The Heart Is Vol. I Love" is anything to go by, I personally think the band are very capable of putting out an absolute stonker of an album.