TERRA ATLANTICA – “Oceans” (2025)

If we say today that a band plays Power Metal, most chances are the style will be similar to SABATON and POWERWOLF, with short, catchy arena songs. Not that this is a bad thing, we love those bands. In the case of TERRA ATLANTICA however, this is no true as they lean more on the classic term of the genre. Meaning, they try to innovate by incorporating new elements and sounds in their music, their songs are adventurous and diverse, but most importantly, if they are to present a new record or track you will not be entirely sure of what to expect.

Coming from “Age of steam” which I found a very refreshing and amazing Power Metal album, in “Beyond the borders” I witnessed the group in a very experimental mode. I welcomed their approach, but it came with an impact on the flow of both the record as a whole and on some specific tracks as well, which made me look forward to the duo of ‘Hellfire’ and ‘Pirate bay’ more than anything else, everytime I revisited it. What is the case with “Oceans”? It retains the same appetite for experimentation, but TERRA ATLANTICA certainly found their footing now, as the record has an excellent pace! I of course have some favorites, but I am not looking forward just to them, it is a complete experience where I want to savor every second of it!

The core atmosphere is a very cinematic approach, a term that is very well deserved. There are orchestrations, epic choirs, a plethora of different sounds and instruments and each song has its own vibes like telling the story of a different adventure. At the same time the band does not forget that they play Metal, the main instruments have a leading role in the mix and you will find many heavy and fast moments. Of course all choruses are anthemic with backing vocals and there are countless melodies within each song, and notable, everything is executed exceptionally well. When I see the term melodic next to Power Metal I get a bit skeptical, as it is usual to be bombarded with countless leads that boast quantity instead of quality. With “Oceans” however I do not have that problem, it feels like being in the Caribbean and every second of the music being like a breath of fresh air!

I spoke of favorites before, so let’s tackle that now. I will start with the first surprise which is ‘Caribbean shores’, whose vibes resemble greatly the Caribbean mood in a very innovative way! Within the tracklist I also found perhaps one of my top three favorite songs of the year, which is ‘Raven in the dark’. It is very different from the rest, more mid tempo and serving great melodies non-stop. When you think the verse is the highlight, you visit the chorus which is even more magical, only for the mindblowing keyboards to declare their presence! The closing ten minute ‘Oceans of eternity’ is another epic moment. Not many parts are repeated, it is pure Metal and cinematic! It has another detail that proves the band has matured.  Like in ‘The great escape’ of the previous album, they cover a piece of classical music. While in that song the classical part lasted for about two minutes feeling it dragged too much, on the new song its duration is much more limited and sounding very fitting, without hurting the buildup.

“Oceans” is the definite TERRA ATLANTICA album for many reasons. If you are new to their music, it serves as a great entry point, which I urge you to do and very much so. If you are a long time fan, you will be delighted as I do not see how it can disappoint you. In the past years, an important attribute I have for judging an album is how many times I want to listen to it. Finding a “masterpiece” only to hear it two times and then leave it to gather dust, does not speak volumes. “Oceans” is the contrary to that, as since the day I got it I want to listen to it again and again, with the best part being that it never got old! It is brimming with hidden details to explore, ideal for listeners who still enjoy discovering new things on consecutive spins. Could it be that I have found my favorite Power Metal entry of year? Maybe, and it was a love at first sight.

92/100

Pavlos Pavlakis   

100: Godsent

90s: Excellent

80s: Very good

70s: Good

60s: Enjoyable

50s: Uninspired

40s: Bad

0s -30s: Unlistenable