Oak, Ash and Thorn - Our Grief Is Thus

Oak, Ash and Thorn – Our Grief Is Thus
Release Date: 19th April 2024
Label: Lost Future Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Blackened Power Metal, Melodic Death Metal, D-beat, Heavy Metal.
FFO: Celestial Wizard, Amon Amarth, Kataklysm, Solemn Vision, Insomnium, Slough Feg, Wolfheart.
Review By: Mark Young

Since 2018’s release of May Every Altar Linger, Oak, Ash & Thorn have continually released new music that combines the dual vocal approach with a melodic edge. 2024 sees them drop their new full-length, Our Grief Is Thus, and it is a decent collection of heavy songs that do what they need to do efficiently. The accompanying PR noted that this is a loosely constructed concept album, in that the subject matter deals with loss in one form or another. I’m glad to report that it takes the idea of a joining concept without the need for 15-minute songs with flutes popping in and out. What they deliver is heavy music that brings together the best parts of melodic and power metal genres that do not overstay their welcome.

Dying Culture starts in an almost immediate fashion, the dual vocal approach working really well due to the strength in the cleans, providing the necessary support to the guttural growls. Some nifty melodic touches are going on, and it moves at a fair pace. The drumming here is something to behold, with Cierra White laying down a constant barrage on the kit. It’s a strong start that is left in the dust by Like The Sea I Raged, which has some mint guitar going on. It’s the definition of a stomping beast, with each member locked in and focused. As we progress into Ten Years On The Tundra the power metal starts to make itself known, the arrangements change ever so slightly as the vocal phrasing starts to adopt a swing to it (as if you were holding a beer). That subtle change adds to their sonic palette, giving them further scope for Adam’s super strong cleans to shine through.

Following a quick reset with Bury Deep My Tired Bones, it’s back to normal service with Light My Pyre, a rager that showcases Cierra playing out of her skin as the drums just push it onward and onward. They are just excellent and do a lot of the heavy lifting here that allows the guitars to do their thing. Auras channels that power metal once more, this time with added melody. That doesn’t mean they leave the melodic death behind, it’s there and in the right amount, but it has to be said there is some cracking singing going on here. You can see it live, the crowd getting involved singing it back. Distant Mountains, Distant Gods goes for the epic, and pulls it off. Furious trem picked parts, guttural vocals all coming together with those crystal clear cleans to make this a stormer of a song.

Unchain The Wolf understands the brief: End the album on a high, and it does it in style. Once again, the drums are just royal, holding everything together whilst riffs are thrown at you from every angle. It’s an exercise in controlled aggression and closes the album out in fine style. Make no mistake, this is a great set of songs, and having that power / melodic metal scope gives them room to breathe and to avoid any accusations of repetition. If you like Melodic Death then this is right up your street, but I think you will dig the power influences too.