Triple Feature: Oceill, Pledge of Healing, Retreat from Moscow

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This triple feature includes three albums that all show great potential to me. Many great albums are releasing all the time, and these three are rock solid. Read on to find out more about Oceill, Pledge of Healing, and Retreat from Moscow.

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Oceill is a band that comes to us from Finland. Their new self-titled record released on April 7^th, and it is a joy to hear. The band plays something of a positive, refreshing progressive rock and metal. There is certainly some Plini influence here, especially in their guitar work, but the album is full of colorful keys, as well. There are hints of djent and ambient, too, so this instrumental record never feels dull, and it sweeps by in a hurricane of textures and imagery.

The whole album is great, all eight tracks. I like tunes such as “Cydel” and “Speed Queen” for their energy and goodness, but other tracks, like “Repose” and “Malaise” for their different spins and interesting sounds. The latter is particularly cinematic, which I like.

My favorite track overall is the closer, “Fifteen Years”, which is glorious and full of light. I adore the last half, especially, with its strings and gracious keyboards. In those moments, I think the band reaches the zenith of their ideas, and I think they can build from there, too. Oceill is definitely worth a listen for anyone that loves instrumental progressive rock with flair.

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Pledge of Healings hails from France. The band is actually a duo made up of Cyril Delvallez on guitars, keys, drums, and bass; and Claire Sergue on vocals. These duos are becoming more prevalent, I have noticed. Their album One Step Closer released back on January 27^th.

They play an artsy prog rock that is soul-soaking and emotional. You can tell, even from their name, that they want to evoke this tone. There is plenty of electronica and keyboards in their sound, with hints of ambient and trip hop, and so they feel smooth, flowing, and rich. Hearing this album is truly a luxurious experience.

I like the entire album, but I would venture to say that the first couple tracks are the weakest, and the last four tracks are the strongest. So, as you progress, the album only gets better. I’ll be honest and admit that it took me a few tries to hear the whole thing, but I’m glad that I did.

I think the last four tracks perfectly define their sound. “Too Late” is a cinematic instrumental piece with lots of percussion, hovering keys, and vocal harmonies. “Thrill Ride” is an extension of it, and is a tightly written, slow burning vocal piece with a great climax. “Rain to Light Up the Sun” is like a blend of the previous two, with its ambient and electronic first half that gives way to an emotional finale. The closer “Through the Storm” is the best on the album, being a mostly instrumental piece with seriously addictive riffs, cinematic flourish, and terrific layering that results in a beautiful and satisfying work.

I would love to see the band expand their sound, but also focus on their strengths. One Step Closer as a whole feels quite good, though there are weak parts here and there. I think the band could really deliver something amazing on their next album.

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Retreat from Moscow comes to us from the UK, and they are signed to Robin Armstrong’s (Cosmograf) label Gravity Dream Music. They were active back in the late 70s and early 80s, only to reform within the last several years to make new music. The band includes Andrew Raymond, Greg Haver, Tony Lewis and John Harris. Guests include Robin himself, along with Andy Tillison, Pete Kirby, and Jillian Slade. Their new album is called Dreams, Myths, and Machines, and released on August 18^th.

The band plays melodic progressive rock in the vein of IQ, Saga, or Marillion. So, they don’t quite have that retro sound, but they also do sound familiar. The instrumentation on this album is superb with groovy bass, intricate drumming, emotional guitars, and extremely lush keyboards. In fact, much of their sound is defined by the driving synth they use, which gives the music an airy, almost celestial tone. The album plays like a river of melody, to be sure.

This is an excellent album. If you love the classic sound only with more feeling, this is for you. From the beginning of the catchy “Saving California”, I knew I would love their brand of melody. I think my favorite songs overall are “I Can Hear You Calling”, something of a mini-epic with lots of beautiful transitions and a fantastic last few minutes with racing synth and hard-groovin’ bass; and the attractive “The Time Traveller” with its spacey atmosphere and rocking second half. There isn’t a bad song here.

Overall, this is a good one for fans of this style, and I think some will be surprised with how truly beautiful it is. Retreat from Moscow has a handle on melody and song structure, and so their veteran status reveals itself pretty quickly.