The gods may hesitate to tell Oceans of Slumber that their latest album, while ambitious, might fall short of expectations. Hailing from Houston, this prog metal band blends elements of black metal and symphonic metal, resulting in some intriguing ideas and moments throughout the record. Yet, despite their technical prowess and the occasional spark of brilliance, the album struggles under the weight of its own ambitions.

One of the major drawbacks is the album's often excessive runtime, with several songs stretching well beyond the point of engagement. The extended song lengths, combined with repetitive song structures, make it difficult to remember when the more compelling moments occur. Oceans of Slumber seems to tread familiar ground more often than not, with their songs fluctuating between being solid, average, or forgettable.

The vocal performance is similarly polarizing. On tracks like "Run From the Light," the band strikes a decent balance between soulful clean vocals and aggressive gutturals that complement the song's energy. However, at other times, the vocals become monotonous, leaning heavily on the same style throughout. The band attempts to mix things up with a bit more variety on songs like "I Will Break the Pride of Your Will," but the overall effect can still feel one-dimensional at times. The clean vocals are capable of delivering emotion, but they don't always mesh seamlessly with the harsher, unclean vocals, leaving some tracks feeling disjointed.

Musically, Oceans of Slumber does show potential, with some standout moments. The drums on "Poem of Ecstasy" are a highlight, offering a dynamic feel that keeps things interesting. For the most part, however, the percussion is locked into a slower, more deliberate rhythm that lacks the intensity needed to make the album feel truly compelling. The guitars, while capable of delivering fast, heavy riffs (such as those on "The Given Dream"), tend to follow a predictable pattern across much of the album. There are some attempts at variety, but the songs often follow the same basic structure: a slow intro with soft, atmospheric vocals, followed by heavy death metal-inspired riffing, a few bursts of blast beats, and then a gradual fade into more atmospheric, prog-like sections. This formula, while effective in some instances, becomes repetitive over the course of the album.

The overall production is where the album shows some of its more interesting textures. The occasional use of piano and cyberpunk-like synths adds an extra layer of atmosphere, fleshing out the world the band is trying to create. It’s clear that Oceans of Slumber is attempting to build something immersive, but the result often feels lackluster. The album hints at a much larger, more intricate world, but it never quite manages to make you feel fully invested in it.

At times, the record's slower passages and long song durations make it difficult to maintain interest, and the music doesn't always provide the payoff that the band seems to be striving for. As a result, while Oceans of Slumber shows potential, this album ultimately leaves you wishing for more — more variety, more memorable moments, and more of the dynamic, genre-blending energy that first drew you in.