Have you have ever heard the saying “There’s beauty in the pain”? Serene in Violent Oceans, which is Katerina Nicole’s debut EP, gives exactly that. Not only does her voice carry a haunting echo of emotions almost like a siren of the ocean but, she also has a smoothness in her sound that gives the songs amazing stability that weathers through a storm. The singer/songwriter opens up like never before on this album giving listeners an insight into her self-doubts and other struggles. Her crossover from pop to metal will surely prove to the world that it is worthy to be heard.
“Catch My Breath” captures the essence of what I would describe as Metal/alternative and essentially embodies the feeling of hopelessness turned into relentlessness. Katerina Nicole has a natural progression in her sound throughout this album that is most present in “Emotionally.” It is a preview of what the rest of the album has to offer as she is tearing her way through obstacles and pulling herself out of the depression-like state and showing she comes back better than before. While the EP as a whole shares commonality, each song tells a different story of trauma, or even self-discovery. As simple as this album could be considered, it breaks through to make the listener feel the push and power of her sound. “What I Know Now” is a journey of picking yourself up again, leaving behind the wreckage, and finally freeing yourself from what was holding you back and dragging you down.
Serene in Violent Oceans fits into its genre well and really gives the listener what they want to hear. It reaches beyond the expectations of what I was hoping for and as far as I can tell, it culminates itself to the max. It brings a lot to the table, and it absolutely dominates. It delivers its message well and speaks loudly to overcome the emotional turbulence, succeeding in her conquest of self-evolution.
I’m Music Magazine Writer Shannon King
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