Melbourne Oddworld collective Ocean Grove cement their sonic identity with the arrival of their brand new album ODDWORLD, out now via ODDWORLD Records in Australia and SharpTone Records for the rest of the world.
A collection of songs that captures Ocean Grove‘s sonic roots as well as their fierce evolution over the years, ODDWORLD emerges instantly as the definitive Ocean Grove record; one that pays homage to the delectable diversity of 2017’s The Rhapsody Tapes while also spanning their entire catalogue and steering into exciting uncharted territory. Produced by Ocean Grove‘s own Sam Bassal along with creative and performance contributions from studio members Luke Holmes and Matthew Kopp, aka Running Touch, ODDWORLD is exactly as its title suggests: beautifully chaotic, sonically kaleidoscopic and wholeheartedly one-of-a-kind.
Accompanying the release of their fourth studio album today, Ocean Grove have also unveiled a brand new music video for the track SOWHAT1999, which premiered exclusively on Crunchyroll earlier this week.
“SOWHAT1999 was written to be a kind of gateway drug to OG, capturing the essence of Oddworld Music,” the band shares. “We got to a point in completing the album that we felt we needed just one more big sounding track to accompany the likes of MY DISASTER, FLY AWAY and CELL DIVISION. There are many darker sides to this album, but with this song a more colourful, free-spirited, tongue-in-cheek side to OG naturally bleeds through and is something our fans will recognise. We had a lot of fun with this song and video and it feels like the kind of track that every nu metal band should have at least one of, featuring a lot of one-liners and euphemisms at the heart of the Oddworld.”
In the lead up to releasing ODDWORLD, Ocean Grove dazzled with nuance and sharp dexterity their earlier singles, including the nu-metal ferocity of FLY AWAY and MY DISASTER, the sleek yet propulsive melodics of RAINDROP, and the raw and riveting stylings of LAST DANCE.
Looking fearlessly to the future while drawing on processes that sparked ground-breaking magic in their earlier releases, ODDWORLD saw vocalist Dale Tanner, bassist/vocalist Twiggy Hunter and drummer/producer Sam Bassal team up with Ocean Grove studio members Luke Holmes and Running Touch, with the collective exploring the dark experimentalism of the Oddworld for the group’s first release via their own record label, ODDWORLD Records, and SharpTone Records.
“It says it all in the title: ODDWORLD,” shares the band of their fourth studio album. “This is Oddworld Music. Period. We’ve curtailed the attempts of outsiders who’ve tried to define our sound and pigeonhole our art for over a decade now. This is Ocean Grove’s signature-defining record, the benchmark from which all future sounds project and reflect. A journey back to our experimental, unconventional roots whilst forging full-blast into a new and fearless era.”
Accompanying the release of ODDWORLD today, Ocean Grove will also be hosting three special East Coast album release parties this weekend, kicking off tonight in Melbourne, before heading to Brisbane on Saturday 23 November and Sydney on Sunday 24 November. Come and hang out with Ocean Grove and celebrate the release of ODDWORLD, including a meet and greet with the band, custom cocktails and plenty of other surprises in store! Entry is free, get down early and join in the fun!
A triumph of innovation and ceaseless imagination, Ocean Grove‘s fourth full length album is ultimately a cohesive and electrifying blend of chaos, charismatic delivery and magnetic craftsmanship.
The brand new Ocean Grove era is here. Welcome to the ODDWORLD.
ODDWORLD – OUT NOW
https://bfan.link/oddworld
