EXTRA EXTRA! Phoenix’ Ashes releases their first new single after five years! With the single ‘Oceans’, post-hardcore formation Phoenix Ashes officially ends a period of silence. With this, the band from Southern Netherlands wants to put themself back on the musical map.
The band was hard at work before the global pandemic threw its veil over the world. They opened for their musical heroes Funeral For A Friend (UK) and played at festivals such as Jera on Air and the Liberation Festival Limburg. In addition, tours were done through Southern Europe, Russia and Indonesia. Along with their release of their live album. Due to burnout, of several members of the band ended up in a hiatus from the music scene.
Five years after the release of ‘Live & Unplugged’, plans were made and the group dove into the studio to record an EP. Together with producer Erwin Hermsen from Toneshed Recording Studio, they worked on Oceans to make a statement to the world of their return to the music life and into the spotlight.
Phoenix Ashes already made their live appearance at metal festival The Rock Circus last autumn, and their single Oceans will be the final proof that they are back, and ready to take the world by storm.
Onto the review! These guys have been near and dear to my heart since I started shooting concert photography back in 2017. Arnout Lie (guitarist and backing vocals) and I have been friends for years and keep in touch so I can attempt to get them over to the US (specifically to my home state of Alaska) for a tour! When he reached out to tell me they were releasing a NEW song, I just about died. I eagerly waited for him to send me the press release for it so I could put it on repeat. These guys have NEVER missed their mark with a song, lyrically or instrumentally.
In the press release, they mention “The lyrics describe the feeling of drowning on one hand and the encouragement to find your steady ground on the other. This is a metaphor for the mental problems that various band members suffered during that period. With this track the band wants to draw more attention to the subject in a broader sense.” This was done BEAUTIFULLY by some of my favorite lines in the song. “Am I to drown in the deep // Or do I find the shores to steady my feet”. The instrumentals behind this line and the haunting intro and vocals to start this had me HOOKED. Easily one of my favorite lines due to its intense relatability. Having experienced single motherhood and drowning in the responsibility of keeping other humans alive while simultaneously trying to provide everything they need is seemingly never ending in that moment.
Leading into the first verse of being torn apart, the instrumentals get an electronic beat to break up that haunting feel and give you this anticipated buildup into a drop that had me head banging and hair swinging. “Collapsing under the weight // The weight that I was supposed to hold”, another relatable line for a cornucopia of situations, not just single motherhood. We all may feel some sort of crushing obligation to hold everything for everyone, to push our own well-being and health aside to make sure those we love around us are cared for, happy and healthy first. In the reality of it all, you can’t help others if you’re too sick to get out of bed. The heaviness is almost transformed into the energy of a mosh-pit (at least for me) and instead of putting me in my head, it gives me a much more uplifting and energetic feel. Also, the intense feeling of hope I feel when “You’ll find a way // Break out // Rise and be free” hits your ears. The song’s lyrics almost talk to each other, too, if you listen closely. There’s the side of them that’s drowning, struggling to break free from depression’s grip, and the other side that’s encouraging them to see they will break free and can be who they want to be (and be happy) they just have to fight for it. The fight won’t be easy, but “Change // Shifting winds on the horizon” tells us, the work is in how you move with the winds. Choose your own fate, before you’re convinced it’s too late to change. Heaviness aside, this song is written beautifully and the instrumentals are incredible.
Even if I’m partially biased with these guys having been friends with them, it’s undeniable that their music is good and everyone needs to RUN to streaming platforms to listen to Phoenix’ Ashes’ newest single in 5 YEARS, “Oceans, which dropped on June 21st.
