A true experience of experimental excellence is something that we rarely get in a large quantity of pure talent. It’s hard to think of the last time when I heard a massive experimental piece that left a big impact on me. It was likely the latest efforts from both Arkheth and Tchornobog that I’d have to go with, and it’s in the years since that I’ve been patiently waiting for the next. It was always going to be a while, but I knew the payoff would be more than worth it. Sure enough, it was tonight that I finally stumbled upon it in the form of Escaping Aghartha’s latest work of realistic terror, humble dreams, and everything in between.

I will admit that just based off of the cover art, I wasn’t expecting much but I cannot implore you enough to look past such unassuming cover art in order to dive into what’s been crafted here even if it’s only in small portions. Nine tracks and stretching to well over an hour long, “Oceanic Womb” is by no means a casual listen especially once you start listening and even more so when you immerse yourself in the bleak reality of what’s being said. Albums talking about current issues is far from something we haven’t seen before, but some subject matters just aren’t talked about enough. The ocean is something that we absolutely need to survive. Not just to eat or for energy or even as a species, but as a planet. It’s only been with Drown’s latest work that light has even been remotely shined on it, but it’s here that Escaping Aghartha takes it to a whole different level. To really become one with what’s done with “Oceanic Womb” is to feel the pain of the waves themselves, and Escaping Aghartha did it masterfully by giving an extremely wide range of style and talent to bring it to life both beautifully and horrifically. There isn’t one style brought to the table here. Escaping Aghartha is constantly shifting between death, doom, and black metal is constantly changing amounts with so many different approaches to it that it almost hurts your head when you try to even comprehend it, yet these guys did it without seeming to break a single sweat. It’s done so masterfully and passionately that one cannot help but get absolutely sucked into it all, and to say that Escaping Aghartha leaves you wanted more with be quite the egregious understatement.

This is undoubtedly an album that must be heard to be believed, and I will claim that “Oceanic Womb” must be heard for as long as I fucking have to. It’s a scathing listen that teaches you to appreciate what we have while we have it, and not to let one of the grandest marvels in our planet’s entire history fall because of our collective arrogance. Escaping Aghartha has made something that’s as compelling as it is terrifying, and I doubt I’ll ever tire of it or its message.

LISTEN to “Oceanic Womb” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Escaping Aghartha on Facebook here.