OAK – The Third Sleep (2025)
With their upcoming fourth album, ”The Third Sleep”, to be released next week, Norwegian crossover progressive rock band OAK delivers a striking exploration of societal complacency and the struggle of the individual. The album contrasts light and darkness, both thematically and musically, seamlessly blending acoustic passages with the raw intensity of progressive metal.
OAK’s dynamic and melancholic sound is reminiscent of RIVERSIDE, PORCUPINE TREE, and ANATHEMA on the one hand – symphonic and neo-dark metal – with soft, atmospheric, hypnotic rhythms bordering on pop from TEARS FOR FEARS and TALK TALK on the other.
“No Such Place” kicks off with a crossover to anchor itself, an ethereal and icy pop tune, a captivating melody with syncopated drum beats, and distant piano, like those NASA voiceovers. “London” brings electric reverberation, a purely Wilsonian feel in the writing leaning towards the ’80s for its dark wave and progressive spirit.
A hauntingly memorable piano line opens ”Run Into the Sun” and the shimmering swathe of keyboards adds a polished sheen to this stunning track. Simen Valldal Johannessen is on top form here, his vocals are just beautiful, especially on the fine chorus and we are treated to one of OAK’s best songs yet.
What really impresses on ”The Third Sleep” is how the band have brought the guitars more to the fore and it really adds another dimension to their already impressive progressive music.
”Shapeshifter” is another piece that is pretty pensive and thoughtful in feel and tone but it has Simen’s rather gorgeous vocals to lift it above the norm. I just can’t get enough of his epic voice. These musicians seem to gel perfectly and have produced their own unique sound and that is no more evident than on this superb song. the guitar, drums and piano all blend together in an imposing soundscape that just grans your attention and won’t let go.
The faster paced, demonstrative ethos of ”Borders” gets you on edge immediately and I like it’s almost random, off-kilter feel. The drums lead and the vocals follow willingly, aided by a fine, skittering piano note. You feel this piece is building up to something as the tension raise before being let loose on an uplifting and arresting chorus. It’s an elegantly emotive song that lives long in the memory after it closes.
The album closes with the epic and profound ”Sensory Overload”, a complex and thought provoking musical journey that feels like you’re in the labyrinthine mind of a tortured musical genius. You get thrown from left to right and all over on this memorable and suitably dramatic odyssey. I mean, there’s even some growling vocals thrown in and I’m not usually a fan of them but, here, they work perfectly adding darkness. What a rather magnificent way to close the album.
On ”The Third Sleep” OAK have crafted a dramatic, exciting and rather imposing collection of songs that shows a young band full of creativity and vitality. Their music is captivating, dark at places, heavy yet poppy with intelligence.
Highly Recommended
01 – No Such Place
02 – London
03 – Run Into the Sun
04 – Shimmer
05 – Shapeshifter
06 – Borders
07 – Sensory Overload
Simen Valldal Johannessen – vocals, keyboards
Stephan Hvinden – guitars
Øystein Sootholtet – bass
Sigbjrn Reiakvam – drums
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