Cenotaph — Riding Our Black Oceans

intothewellsabyss
Jul 1, 2023
3 min read

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…

On this day (July 1) in 1994, Mexico’s Cenotaph released their second full-length studio album “Riding Our Black Oceans” via Cyber Music. (not to be confused with the Turkish band of the same name).

Background:

The album is more heavily influenced by the (then) burgeoning Death Metal sound from Europe, mainly Sweden. For the second re-issue of “Riding Our Black Oceans” by Chaos Records, the label stated that the album “was a landmark in this style, where aggression meets melodies and the result is a contrasting war of emotions. Never before has melody in music been so powerfully channelled and it must be considered that this was released way back in 1994. Not only was this an extremely influential album for the scene back then, it remains a standout album even today, what with its music remaining powerful and challenging and ever so evocative. This is considered a classic not just in Mexico but all over the world.”

“The facets are ever revealing, slowly unravelling themselves with each listen. It’s an intricate album with powerful and fragile emotions put together.”

Re-issues:

The album was reissued by Oz Records in 1999 in a regular edition and a two-disc limited edition, the second featuring a five-song live show.

“Riding Our Black Oceans” was remastered with a new layout by Chaos Records, limited to 1000 copies only.

Critical Reception:

In a retrospective review, grizzlybutts.com stated;

“The entire Cenotaph catalog is necessary listening for death metal fans, and especially for those seeking proof of the reach of early Scandinavian melodeath tendrils beyond. The two records that would follow this one have equal strengths and weaknesses but only ‘Epic Rites’ comes close to this one’s ambitious vision, perhaps because of Viterbo‘s strong playing and ear for the flow of riffs as you’d see him add similar life to The Chasm soon after. I consider this one of the better melodic death metal albums ever recorded not only because of it’s unique approach to the style, but for the hardened edge that it carries over instead of relying on the pronounced saccharine aspects of the sub-genre. It is a melodic death metal album for and by old school death metal purists first and foremost.”

While Pagan Hel at RAMzine.co.uk stated;

"This album is very technical and progressive through-out its malingering frenzy and vocal entourage, which sounds extremely urgent and engaging. It fires on all cylinders, possessing a certain ambiance and even has some black metal components contained with its steely structures. Evil drips quickly from its pores offering intrigue and urgency. The guitars as I mentioned above contain a brutal technical flurry whilst the slow and more sombre track “The Silence of our Black Oceans” brings a dark ambient flavour to the mix and adds depth to an already deep chasm of blackness. It has a chill factor about it that is deeply disturbing as the vocals are not harmonious but strained and forceful, that begs the listener to sit up and take notice.”

Pagan Hel concludes with;

“It is not your typical death metal album, as the band have added in certain workings that breed discord and pure evil and wrapped it into an irresistible encounter with a harsh and toxic spike of malevolence! It is rough, gruff, and mean and literally avenges its victims with a pure hate filled rampage! Listeners beware though this album doesn’t flow with melodic tendencies but with more of a harsh and brooding nature.”

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

Click this link to listen to “Riding Our Black Oceans” via Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/riding-our-black-oceans/1518262495

Click this link to listen to “Riding Our Black Oceans” via Spotify: Riding Our Black Oceans https://open.spotify.com/album/5mm82igWbbErjcDYoiObcK

Click this link to purchase “Riding Our Black Oceans” via Bandcamp: https://cenotaphmx.bandcamp.com/album/riding-our-black-oceans

Click this link to follow Cenotaph (Mexico) on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cenotaphofficial

Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells

Cenotaph — Riding Our Black Oceans

Background:

Re-issues:

Critical Reception:

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

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