Don't you love it when you've been waiting for new material from a band, and then it finally happens? That exhilarating moment when anticipation meets reality is always special. This is precisely the case with Finnish symphonic black metal band …And Oceans and their latest release, The Regeneration Itinerary.
Since their recent releases, I've been keeping a close eye on this band. Today, while I won't delve into every detail, I'll share a few highlights and standout moments from this album and explain why it's a special release. Let's get into it.
Track 1: "Inertiae"
The album kicks off with "Inertiae," which opens on an eerie bed of synths before diving headfirst into the chaos. From the outset, the tone is seriously impressive—rich and full-bodied, especially through headphones. The tempo sets a confident pace with sharp blast beats and commanding vocals. A standout moment hits around the 1:45 mark, when the frenzy drops into a calming synth passage, creating a weightless, spacey atmosphere. Then, just when you expect a return to high-speed aggression, the track pivots into a synthwave-infused techno passage—surprisingly fitting, and a bold statement of the sonic risks this album is willing to take.
Track 8: "I Am Coin, I Am 2"
Momentum comes fast here, plunging straight into the band’s high-energy chaos before giving way to a more deliberate and nuanced passage. This middle section feels especially refined and really suits the band's evolving sound. At 1:39, the track pivots again, driven by a clean, punchy double bass rhythm that balances control with just enough chaos. The ambient layers woven in throughout add texture without cluttering the space. When the riff at 2:11 hits, it brings with it my personal favorite guitar moment on the album—catchy, powerful, and perfectly timed. The simplicity of the progression gives just the right amount of breathing room for the other instruments to shine. Vocalist Mathias Lillmåns displays excellent control throughout the final half, knowing exactly when to push forward and when to pull back. I especially appreciate how the track revisits that standout riff in the closing section, but with more intensity and added layering. It’s a clever move, and one that really shows off the band’s ability to evolve their ideas with finesse.
Track 9: "The Terminal Filter"
"The Terminal Filter" brings things to a powerful conclusion. It blends atmospheric synths and melodic guitar work to create a soundscape that feels both grounded and otherworldly. The gradual buildup pays off beautifully in the final third, where melodic layering and tightly synced rhythms form an emotional peak. It's a strong closer that pulls together the various ideas explored across the album—chaos, clarity, and catharsis—all in one track
Track 3: "The Collector and His Construct"
Precision is the name of the game here. The track opens with razor-sharp drum fills that transition seamlessly into a tight gallop beat. The drums do a fantastic job setting a relentless rhythm, and the interplay with the guitars is on point. The chord progressions, especially the tremolo-picked melodies, add rich texture and align perfectly with the vocals. Around the midpoint, the song takes on a more anthemic feel, thanks to the addition of triumphant-sounding background elements. The angelic singing toward the end contrasts beautifully with the earlier aggression, creating a majestic, almost reverent close that feels tailor-made for a Stadiuml-sized metal gig.
Track 6: "The Fire in Which We Burn"
This track was the strongest on the album in my opinion. This was EASILY my favourite. Even though it was the shortest on the album, I thought the whole direction, sound, tone, vocals, guitar, and drums were all absolutely fucking amazing on this song. And if the whole album were like this, this would have probably scored even higher. But I fully appreciate them trying new things and think it's a key part of a band's growth. At the end of the day, this review doesn't set in stone how good the album is—it’s just my thoughts—and I genuinely thought this was the best track on the album. I thought the subtle usage of a synthesizer that sounded as if it were being "twanged" was a super cool, quick, and diverse way to start the song. This 8-power-chord progression is super quick to enter your ears, with a super sharp sound reminiscent of Dark Fortress material. The drums supply a constant stream of meaty double bass kicks, while there’s a nice 4/4 on the hi-hat and snare. This simplicity gives way for the amazing guitar to shine bright. But after the drum fill, when the tone and tempo change into a more gritty and headbanging style, the whole thing really takes off. I think this song showcases the band's supernatural ability to go from one tempo to the next, essentially changing time signatures on a whim. In this style, it’s actually insane—and executed with super precision.
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As my review of ...And Oceans’ The Regeneration Itinerary draws to a close, I have to say—I went into this release with high hopes following their last album, and I’m happy to report they absolutely knocked it out of the park.
Since first discovering this band and diving into their discography, I’ve noticed how much their sound has evolved from album to album. With this release, it feels like they’ve reached a major milestone in their artistic journey. There’s a sense of maturity here—not just in the songwriting, but in the overall execution. Every instrument is played with precision. The production is clear and commanding. Genre elements shift on a dime—from symphonic black metal to synth-driven experimentations—yet the band never loses its core identity.
I’m genuinely impressed, and it’s with excitement that I give this album a solid 9 out of 10. If …And Oceans continue on this upward trajectory, evolving with this much creativity and boldness, I have no doubt we’re in for even greater things to come.
9-10: Exceptional
7-8: Good, Great
5-6: Average, Decent
3-4: Fair, Mediocre
1-2: Poor, Subpar
Grading system.
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