To say that 2022 was a successful year for Gippsland-based melodic metalcore trio Ocean Sleeper would be an understatement. The group launched their Is It Better Feeling Nothing EP which took them to new heights, leading them around the country on on their biggest headline tour to date, with an international support in Thousand Below.
They also featured in Episode 2 of our Wall of Sound TV series as one of Australia's next generation of heavy bands to watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cTK0kT59rc&list=PLtEYeI-GCi_1l7Ev32GJwO4-52zfrx96y&index=3
Now that we are deep into 2023, the boys have bounced back to make this year just as triumphant as the last. New track 'Never The One' manages to push the band's sounds to new lengths as clean vocalist Ionei Heckenberg displays his talents in a faultless manner. For the first time in the group's history, frontman and unclean vocalist Karl Spiessl exhibits his flair as he joins Heckenberg with contributing cleans before hitting a predictable, yet delightful breakdown.
Drummer Jarred Robson quietly departed the group recently, leaving a massive question mark on who the featuring drummer on this track might be. Having been familiar with lead vocalist Speissl's talents, particularly from his days as a one-man band in Karltheband, it wouldn't quite come as a shock if Speissl was the one who sat behind the kit during the recording process of this single.
‘Never The One‘ is very unique compared to anything that we have heard from the band yet as they let their pop influences bleed through… But don’t worry, if you are a fan of the group's previous work, you are sure to have a strong appreciation for this slight change in direction. Fingers crossed that this track is only the beginning of something new for Ocean Sleeper - it's instantly become our fav release of the week and immediately added to our Aussie Heavyweights & Hitmakers Playlist here.
You can catch Ocean Sleeper performing 'Never The One' live on their upcoming tour with Make Them Suffer as well as at the Frankston leg of the Unify Off The Record.
Words by Adam Rice
Stream 'Never The One' here
