elements of metal and other genres, alongside progressive elements such as polyrhythms and time signature changes.
2010 brought their first EP offering, Vultures (mixed and mastered by John Mitchell at Outhouse Studios), which was received positively throughout the New Zealand metal scene and with positive reviews in national music publications. The release of Vultures allowed OBO to seal the first chapter in their existence and finally begin work on new material.
Their latest work is featured in split EP with fellow Wellingtonians The Dauntless, titled Storm of the Century. These three new songs show the direction the band is headed in as they prepare to write their first full-length.
ark
Of Blackest Oceans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I shut my eyes and I see the outlines of landscapes, beyond comprehension.
If I only I could go there again.
Don't make me leave, don't make me wake up from this sleep.
If it's just a dream so real it seems, let the illusion take me.
This is the end of life as I know it, but I can see so clear that my objective is worthy to take this lifetime and whatever else follows.
As I watched my world collapse, I receded into dream.
The closer I got to power, the more sleep evaded me.
Behold its majesty.
Decay left at the thresholds of greatness.
A realm without death or despair.
It seems as if nothing else changes; time no longer a burden.
As the night began to shy away and the sky began to glow, I found myself surrounded by remnants of bloodlines I felt guilty that I didn't know.
But I have sacrificed everything of the nothing that I have left, to stand upon the edge of the precipice and challenge the chaos that put me to my test.
Challenge the chaos, and claim my rightful throne.
This time I'm going home.
So I step from this plane of existence to feel no resistance.
To fall such a distance.
I have sacrificed everything of the nothing I have left.
The lyrics of Of Blackest Oceans's song Ark seem to explore the idea of a dream-like state or an alternate reality that exists beyond our waking world. The opening lines describe an unreachable place, filled with surreal landscapes that are beyond human comprehension. The singer yearns to return to this place but is afraid of being awakened from this dream.
The following lines suggest a sense of purpose or direction, as the singer sees clearly that their objective is worth taking their lifetime and whatever else follows. The lyrics then dive into a confusing mix of power, sleep, and poison, hinting at the singer's obsession and the drastic measures they may have taken to reach this realm.
As the song progresses, we hear the singer reflecting on their journey to this place, describing the threshold of greatness and a world without death or despair. The final lines suggest a willingness to sacrifice everything for the chance to claim a rightful throne and challenge the chaos that tested them.
Overall, the lyrics of Ark seem to be grappling with the idea of purpose and control in a chaotic world, exploring the lengths one may go to find a meaningful existence, even if it means sacrificing everything.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a place beyond the waking world.
When I close my eyes, I can see a world that is beyond my current understanding.
If I only I could go there again.
I yearn to return to that mysterious world once more.
Don't make me leave, don't make me wake up from this sleep.
I don't want to leave this dream world and return to reality.
If it's just a dream so real it seems, let the illusion take me.
Even if this world is only a dream, I want to stay here and indulge in its reality.
This is the end of life as I know it, but I can see so clear that my objective is worthy to take this lifetime and whatever else follows.
Although my current life is coming to a close, I believe that my purpose is worth pursuing even in death.
As I watched my world collapse, I receded into dream.
As my reality crumbled, I retreated further into the dream world to avoid the pain.
The closer I got to power, the more sleep evaded me.
The more I pursued power, the further away I became from the dream world and the harder it was to sleep.
I can't be sure I'm not crazy, but poison must be the key to unlocking the gates of deception.
I am uncertain of my sanity, but I believe that poison is necessary to uncover the truth in this illusory world.
Behold its majesty.
This dream world is a sight to behold.
Decay left at the thresholds of greatness.
In this world, decay is only present on the fringes of greatness.
A realm without death or despair.
In this world, death and despair do not exist.
It seems as if nothing else changes; time no longer a burden.
Time is no longer a concern in this world, as everything appears to remain stagnant.
As the night began to shy away and the sky began to glow, I found myself surrounded by remnants of bloodlines I felt guilty that I didn't know.
As dawn approached, I was confronted by the heritage of those who came before me, and I felt remorse for not recognizing them earlier.
But I have sacrificed everything of the nothing that I have left, to stand upon the edge of the precipice and challenge the chaos that put me to my test.
I have given up what little I had left to face the tumultuous world and overcome the challenge it presents.
Challenge the chaos, and claim my rightful throne.
I will confront the chaotic world and take my rightful place at the top of it.
This time I'm going home.
This time I am heading back to the dream world, which I consider to be my true home.
So I step from this plane of existence to feel no resistance.
I am leaving my current reality to enter the dream world without any obstacles or opposition.
To fall such a distance.
I am prepared to fully immerse myself in the dream world.
I have sacrificed everything of the nothing I have left.
I have given up everything I had to pursue my objective in this world.
Contributed by Jake H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Marco Tilburg
love it !!
OF BLACKEST OCEANS
+Marco Tilburg Thanks man!
Yung Mophead
Sick.
Mike
do you even lift
ponderingponderer
Fucking awesome shit, but maybe some constructive criticism, some clean vocals would really do this band justice
Just-Do-It-Up
It's perfect without clean vocals.
K Wu
OF BLACKEST OCEANS
Chur to the chur
OF BLACKEST OCEANS
Thanks for the support Ben! We don't have any physical copies available just yet. But we do have the whole album available for digital download at ofblackestoceans.bandcamp.com.
K Wu
As someone who has been enjoying your music almost since day one, please don't kill it. Use them wisely, and don't whine. You're a stellar band, just keep it up! I find the melody within your riffs and bridges more than makes up for a lack of clean singing. PS I paid money for Vultures, and your split with Dauntless. I moved away from Wellington so didn't hear you released a new one, but I'll be sure to track down a copy of Identity now.
OF BLACKEST OCEANS
We will definitely experiment with some things. Pitched screaming like in Patriot and Federal Hill are very likely to happen more often but we will need to see how the music can accomodate cleaner vocals without straying from our normal vibe.