Whether it be the iconic imagery and storytelling on Pink Floyd's The Wall or the interstellar plot of Mastodon's Crack the Skye, it can be certainly understood that concept records as a whole are an experience of a different caliber. Personally, I have a soft-spot for records which revolve around a theme considering there is a central congruency that holds the music and lyrical content together in a cozy, appealing manner. With that being said, I also hold a particular standard for concept albums with the criteria that they may either be too loose-ended or rather convoluted. Sails of Serenity's debut LP The Crossing strives to convey the adventures (or in many cases, misadventures) of nautical travel and other oceanic subjects.
As for the background of this group, Sails of Serenity is based out of Istanbul, a location I definitely don't associate with progressive metalcore. The Turkish act has previously released the Gold to Rust EP and "The Bitter End" single in 2016, but are finally unveiling their first full-length album via Famined Records. All ten tracks on the record were mixed and mastered by Gabor Toth (Harmed) at Ghostship Recordings (Beyond Deviation, Swallowed Alive, Bloodbather).
While in most of my reviews I aim to highlight certain aspects that are notable about the records, yet I believe that in the case of this conceptually-driven album it's only fair to work my way through this release chronologically. Furthermore, it is important to understand that the band presents the album as three separate movements (Departure, Journey, and Arrival) with intro track "Wanderlust" setting the mood. Guest composer Eren Başbuğ (Dream Theater) does a phenomenal job conjuring the cinematic opening orchestral instrumental. The soft strings that played provide both a sense of tranquility and a sense of wonder. Where the soundscape created is a tad on the minimalistic side, the melodic tone and textures were nonetheless successful in establishing a nautical spirit.
Onwards towards The Crossing's first movement (Departure) would be the heavy-hitting track "Castaway," which establishes the band's duality in heaviness and catchiness. Although the infectious chorus element is subtle, the melodic characteristics become increasingly apparent with each listen. Sails of Serenity dive deeper into their metalcore roots in "Between the Devil and Deep Blue Sea" and "Atlantis" reeling in similarities to Architects or Born of Osiris. While there is an undeniable variety in dynamics conveyed, you would absolutely not want to get stuck in the middle of the mosh pit for the aforementioned pieces.
The second movement (Journey) expands on the impressive spectrum of colossal riffs fused with delicate infectious vocal melodies scattered about. "Left Behind" is a fine example of this musical contrast with elements reminiscent of Erra or Tesseract. Eerie atmospheres and piano-work are showcased on "Let Me Go" and the title track where "The Ghost Ship" heats everything back up. Complete with head-bobbing grooves and a foot-stomping breakdown, the track is likely bound to be an instant djent/deathcore classic.
Finally, we reach the brief, last movement (Arrival) where the band gives it their all. Where other progressive metalcore bands would be winding down by this time in the album, Sails of Serenity crank it up a notch on "Blood Moon" and the closer "Shipwrecked." If you're a fan of After the Burial's intellectual take on metalcore and deathcore, these last couple songs are perfect for you.
Through the song titles and lyrics, the central theme is quite clearly established. And admittedly, when hearing about a nautically themed concept album, Leviathan by Mastodon instantly comes to mind, yet Sails of Serenity approach the concept in a different manner. Although vocalist Selim Devirek speaks of topics associated with being amongst the ocean, the ulterior meanings become rather apparent. A piece such as "Castaway" could be literally understood as being stranded on an island, but there also is the meaning of metaphorically feeling socially stranded. This notion can also be applied to "Left Behind" and "Shipwrecked" amongst others. Lastly, I'm curious if the album would've benefitted by some sampling of ocean or island ambiance to further the immersion in the theme.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD_ay7H5Tfs][/youtube]
If I were forced to provide criticism, the vocals could do with a larger range and the production could've allowed for more epic and creative moments. Regardless, Sails of Serenity pack this record full of adventurous headbangers. There are some screws that I think could be tightened, but as a debut release, The Crossing is an absolutely sublime record. I'm excited to see where Sails of Serenity shall venture in the future and am optimistic that their next journey will expand on every spectacular characteristic within this LP.
Score: 9/10
