Norwegian death-metal outfit Okular have just dropped a brand new song off the band’s long-awaited third full-length album “Regenerate”, which is scheduled to be released on June 7th.
Titled “Back to Myself and Beyond”, this new track is now playing at Heavy Blog Is Heavy, who had this to say about the new single: “a veritable beast of a song and powerful mission statement for Regenerate. Harnessing the best of the Norwegian underground with muscular guitars charged by complementary hints of melody and dissonance, it’s a damn good preview into Okular’s ability to meld styles into complex, engaging songs with undeniable groove.”
Listen to “Back to Myself and Beyond” here.
The band comments: “The riffs take many surprising twists and turns, ranging from fast, chaotic and dissonant to heavy, simplistic and groovy. Many parts feature a layering of 2–3 different simultaneous guitar-lines. Lyrically, it describes a determination to be firmly anchored in the authentic self and to cut through delusion.”
Listen to the album’s leading single “Wake-Up Call” at this location.
This new effort brings a halt to an eleven-year hiatus, being the first full-length release from the band since their 2013’s second album “Sexforce” and it’s safe to say that the wait has been well worth it.
Formed in 2009 by composer, lyricist and backing vocalist Andreas Aubert, who writes all the material in Guitar Pro, Okular have released two full-length albums to wide-spread critical acclaim. “Probiotic” in 2011, which Øystein G. Brun from Borknagar called a “mandatory listen” and was elected album of the month in Norway’s Scream Magazine. The album featured Yngve Bolt Christiansen (Blood Red Throne vocalist 2012–2023) as co-vocalist. On the sophomore album “Sexforce” (2013), guest vocals were provided by Vintersorg (Borknagar vocalist 2000–2019) on the track “The Greatest Offender”.
In addition to the band’s expected prog death metal mastery, “Regenerate” sees Okular recapturing that Scandinavian melodic approach present on their first album “Probiotic”, merged with the groove and sporadic dissonance that characterised “Sexforce”. Pre-orders are now available here.
Links:
https://okularmetal.no
https://www.facebook.com/okularmetal