### Ocean Chief: Sten

#### 02/05/13 || gk

Sweden’s Ocean Chief formed back in 2001 and are now on to their fourth full length and first for high quality doom label I Hate. The band’s lumbering, Neanderthal dirges have always been a bit hit or miss for me but when they’re on, Ocean Chief is quite capable of producing some truly awesome moments.

“Sten” opens with the 17 minute “Den sanna styrkan” which starts with a bass driven low end rumble and a slow stomp that gradually settles into a terrific doom riff and an absolutely superb bass solo around half way through the song. It’s a pretty great opener and sets a high standard for the rest of the songs. “Slipsten” is more traditional doom with a vague Reverend Bizarre feel to its central riff as it meanders its way through almost 20 minutes and ends with a spaced out lead guitar section that is quite memorable. It’s a song with a few high points but just too long as a few stretches in the song have no impact at all. “Stenhög” is more sludge in its approach and execution with a thick and impenetrable bottom end and tortured, shouted vocals. It’s another long song, clocking in at over 15 minutes and the first half with its repetitious stomp gets a bit boring while the second half picks up a little bit but again, suffers from just being a bit too damn long. The album closes with another 20 minute behemoth in “Oden”. Starting with some clean guitar, it’s a mournful dirge that has traces of melody that are buried deep within the claustrophobic sludge of the band. It’s a pretty good closer though and has moments of true brilliance.

Björn Andersson’s guitars are front and centre right through this album and while his riffs often have this subterranean, sludgy and primitive feel to them, his leads and clean parts provide a nice counter point. Jocke Pettersson’s bass has a ridiculously heavy tone and his playing is quite impressive right through the album. New recruit Johan Pettersson on the Minikorg 700 provides some atmospheric fills but is generally underutilised while drummer and vocalist Tobias Larsson turns in a well-rounded performance with his drumming being mostly sparse and understated while his vocals are powerful and emotional.

The problem with “Sten” is the same problem I’ve had with every one of Ocean Chief’s albums till date. The band seems to have trouble when it comes to reining in the songs. There are too many long, meandering passages on “Sten” that simply don’t make any impression. Clocking in at over 70 minutes with just 4 songs, “Sten” really is only for the die-hard genre enthusiast. If doom and sludge is all you ever listen to, then “Sten” might rock your world. For the casual listener, there’s far better stuff out there.

- Information
- Released: 2013
- Label: I Hate
- Website: Ocean Chief Bandcamp
- Band
- Tobias Larsson: vocals, drums
- Björn Andersson: guitars
- Jocke Pettersson: bass
- Johan Pettersson: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Den sanna styrkan
- 02. Slipsten
- 03. Stenhög
- 04. Oden