ALBUM REVIEW ~ OCEANS ON ORION ~ 'START FROM NOTHING'

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Metal-core misfits who rose from their beginnings in Tel Aviv, Oceans on Orion recently debuted their first full-length album titled Start From Nothing at the end of March. A nine-track hardcore symphony, the theatrics and heart-pounding cacophony of Start From Nothing stirs into mind the violent passion and dramatization of bands like Metallica and Ghost, and while they do take influence from metal acts of earlier decades, Oceans on Orion have crafted their own stylistic sound and resonance.

Going into detail with the album’s title track, “Start from Nothing” gives a stadium-worthy spirit. A fast-paced headbanger with melodic transitions from verse to chorus and a marching-band style beat preluding the bridge, “Start from Nothing” is a high-energy track. A hardcore chant follows the chorus and gives the hairband-style vocals of the song a modern twist.

The throaty screams introduce the second track “Weaponized Misery”. This song blasts a pure heavy metal narrative, nothing short of hardcore. Passion and venom fulfill the lyrics spat out—often in screams—and the shredding riffs and anarchic drumming duel for control.

“Tomorrow’s Rain” softens the album’s tone as a pensive heartache song, providing vulnerable emotion and lyrics. The vocals—while lighter than the first two tracks—still harness a growling power that grants even one of the softest tracks an edge. “Tomorrow’s Rain” was one of the earlier releases, put out last year in early 2022. The raw emotion thrown into this song places it in a spotlight, easily identifiable among the rest of the album.

Another stand-alone track is “Indifferent Light”. The fifth song on the list, the yearning of “Indifferent Light” sparks an inner turmoil and longing with a savvy guitar solo not just preluding the bridge but also in the opening.

“Tame” picks up the heavy energy and throws it into overdrive. Brazened with both low growls and high screams in the vocals, “Tame” is a thrill-ride of a heavy metal rollercoaster that will surely be a mosh-pit favorite.

“Love” is a dynamic track of techno-styled keys and hardcore riffs with choir-like harmonies carrying it further than just another metal track on the record. The difficulties of moving on drive the song’s meaning to the forefront.

“Killing the Messenger” embodies a spiteful tone with the sharpened guitar licks and direct vocal hits. Leaning on the venom that carried the earlier tracks, “Killing the Messenger” kicks up a theatrical hype with a showstopper finish, although the album’s finale is still to come.

Start From Nothing ends with a dirty industrial anthem “Confront Yourself”. Haunting and heavy, the final conclusion doesn’t take a break and instead throws in all the power, passion, and vocal ferocity that embodied the album into the ending. The hardcore drumming that kept the intensity strong and the exciting solos that makes any classic metal track come alive, “Confront Yourself” gave a sweeping bow to the album.

While Oceans on Orion may just be finding their footing, with a highly spirited debut like this one along with several music videos which helped to gather an online following, the future of the band appears to be full of opportunities (and hopefully more releases).

I’m Music Magazine Writer Alice Kearney