Oak, The Third Sleep Ltd LP (Smash)

The 4th Oak album “The Third Sleep” continues the development from “The Quiet Rebellion of Compromise lyrically, delving deeper into the dark corridors of the mind. The form is suggestive and poetic, with room for interpretation within certain boundaries.

The album is also more outward facing than its introspective predecessor, with socially critical lyrics that demand the listener’s attention and an ability to read between the lines. Extensive use of modal scales, intricate vocal harmonies, and polyrhythms characterize the compositions. One goal has been to use these techniques in a way that does not feel forced or complicating, but allows the music to flow and captivate, while also challenging and offering the listener multiple layers to explore.

Genre-wise, the album spans from folk-inspired acoustic rock to the brutal, bordering on black metal, yet always with a clear, red thread and musical unity.