Join this talented Polish musician and his excellent new album of Atmospheric Doom and Post-Metal on a journey through the dark waters of the inner self.
If the ocean could sing, what would it say? That’s the question asked by Polish guitarist Damian Kinowski in If The Ocean Could Sing, the new album by his Atmospheric Folk/Doom/Post-Metal project Against the Seasons. Mixed, mastered and recorded at Versus Records, displaying a beautiful artwork by Aghy Purakusuma, and featuring guests Michał Miluśki (Aether) on vocals and Łukasz Tomczak (Immalum) on bass and drums, the album is a journey through the dark waters of the inner self, portraying a mix of emotions and reflections that haunted Damian during a melancholic period, while also inspired by the music by Woods of Ypres, Forest Stream, Thrawsunblat, Alice in Chains, and many others.
A massive riff by Damian kicks off the album on a high note in Exile, accompanied by the pounding drums by Łukasz and with Michał bringing his share of melancholy and darkness to the music with his devilish roars. Then we’re treated to an amazing rendition by Damian and his henchmen of The Astral Dialogue, by Agalloch (check the original version HERE), presenting the heaviness of the original with the band’s own modern and vibrant twist, followed by Ode, a detailed song with a nice balance between Doom and Folk Metal by the trio, with the guitars by Damian setting the tone while Łukasz delivers sluggish yet fierce beats, all boosted of course by Michał’s anguished roars. Reflection On The Pond brings to our avid ears another round of their Atmospheric Black Metal overflowing pain, melancholy and obscurity, with the acoustic and electric guitars by Damian once again penetrating deep inside our souls; and it’s then time for the second cover of the album, The Sun Was In My Eyes: Part One by Woods of Ypres (also check the original version HERE), sounding even more imposing and epic. Finally, an acoustic intro by Damian kicks off the closing aria Elegy Of The Stars, offering over ten minutes of serene passages intertwined with atmospheric and somber blasts of Black Metal, with the vocal lines by Michał overflowing anger supported by the ominous drums by Łukasz.
If The Ocean Could Sing can be appreciated in full on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course in order to truly support the underground you can grab a copy of the album from the project’s BandCamp page, and don’t forget to also subscribe to their official YouTube channel. Damian and his Against the Seasons are definitely making the ocean sing in their enfolding and melancholic new album, offering a feast of Atmospheric Black and Doom Metal with Post-Metal nuances for admirers of the genre that will certainly fuel Damian to keep embellishing the airwaves with his dark and extremely melodic music for many years to come.
Best moments of the album: Exile and Elegy Of The Stars.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2024 Independent
Track listing
1. Exile 4:56
2. The Astral Dialogue (Agalloch Cover) 5:18
3. Ode 4:43
4. Reflection On The Pond 4:24
5. The Sun Was In My Eyes: Part One (Woods of Ypres Cover) 6:31
6. Elegy Of The Stars 10:18
Band members
Damian Kinowski – guitars
Guest musicians
Michał Miluśki – vocals
Łukasz Tomczak – bass, drums
