The latest album from the band Oceans of Night, Midnight Rising, has been in my listening rotation for a few weeks now, 
it’s even been a soundtrack for one of my runs, and it is becoming one of my favorite prog albums! Oceans of Night is according to the band’s website…..
…. a modern rock band – equal parts progressive rock and modern heavy metal, wrapped around powerful vocal melodies and evocative guitar work served with a distinct ambient flavor. Conjuring epic and dynamic music with an cinematic twist, each Oceans of Night release is a dramatic musical experience that demands your undivided attention. With 3 CD’s currently in circulation (and 4 other CDs released eponymously under Scott Mosher) Oceans of Night are forging a brave new path in the world of progressive metal music.
Rising from the ashes of the eponymous solo band lead by musical mastermind Scott Mosher, from 1996 through 2004, Oceans of Night bridges the worlds of progressive metal, melodic hard rock and ambient music to create an experimental yet complimentary style of music that is at once as subtle as it is powerful, aggressive as it is dynamic and timeless as it is modern. Scott Oliva continues to perform in the legendary NY Iron Maiden tribute band, Live After Death and The Nightmare Stage. He has also written, performed and recorded with Wind Wraith, Inner Strength, Last Vision Black and Driven. The Scott’s had first worked together on Mr. Mosher’s 4th CD release, Deep Horizon, in 2006. Say hello for the first time in a musical experience, to the Talented Mr. Smithee
The album has just about the right mix for me, at times very melodic and at others just crashing music with ripping guitars and throughout the album the vocals from Scott Oliva are spot on! In Mosher’s biography on his webpage the music of Oceans of Night is described thusly….
The secret to the Oceans of Night sound? Take 20 lbs. of crushing heavy metal, 10 lbs. of guitar-driven hard rock, a progressive approach to rhythmic meter and song composition, mix with 32 oz. of ambient/trance music, ad a dash of electronic new age, and a dose of pop music sensibility… shake, stir, and imbibe
In addition to creating the “songs, music, lyrics, playing guitar and keyboards Scott also appears to be in charge of “security and all intergalactic marketing decisions.” While bandmate Scott Oliva duties include Vocals, lyrics,and “all terrestial voice arrangements”.Alan Smithee, well, he just drums along.
Midnight Rising the album I have been enjoying is described as follows…
Dynamic, evocative and powerful, MIDNIGHT RISING is a continuation of the ambient metal style established on 2006’s DEEP HORIZON, THE SHADOWHEART MIRROR (2009) and onthrough DOMAIN in 2011. Once again mixed/mastered by Joey Vera (Armored Saint, FatesWarning, Engine), MIDNIGHT RISING also features guest appearances by keyboardist Vivien Lalu (Lalu, Shadrane, Hubi Meisel), guitarist Chris Rifkin (EF5/F5, Eye of the Storm) and vocalist Stephanie Warren. With over an hour of music that pushes boundaries and bridges worlds, Oceans of Night remain dedicated to exploring the sonic limits of metal music by any means necessary Read More – Buy.
So check out Oceans of Night! As or me, I think I’m going to check out Scott’s debut album Ambient Earth. It sounds like it’s right up my alley….
Scott Mosher released his first CD in 1996, entitled “Ambient Earth”. This CD cemented the sonic foundation of his future CD releases, as it was a pure electronic all instrumental release of new-age and rock-inspired soundscapes, something along the lines of TANGERINE DREAM and Jan Hammer.
Links
Website
ProgArchives
CDBaby
Facebook
Here are three of my favorite tracks from the album…..
