Bison – You Are Not The Ocean You Are The Patient

After this album, we’re down to be Bison’s patient any day.

Bison is the kind of band that you either love or hate. For a fairly modern act, bursting onto the scene about 11 years ago, the Vancouver quartet have been a fierce addition to stoner and sludge since. Bison has seen a few changes since their last album Lovelessness came out five years ago. The “B.C.” mark on their name has since been dropped, as have the band themselves from their Metal Blade Records family. On top of this, Bison’s original bassist Masa Anzai found his position in the band given to Shane Clark, formally of 3 Inches of Blood. Such shifts in Bison’s itinerary manifested themselves sonically in their latest, You Are Not The Ocean You Are The Patient. It seems these shifts have worked well for them.

Probably one of their most diverse yet, You Are Not The Ocean, kicks off with “Until The Earth Is Empty,” which touches on some of the bands older stylings in a fresh way. Immediately, a thrusting and forcefully fast punk sound blares through the speakers and carries on through the next song “Anti-War.” A lamented change comes with the next string of tracks, where moodier resonance meets a nostalgic riff line, murky bass and fierce drumming on tracks like “Kenospsia” and even in “Drunkard,” but the last two tracks end You Are The Ocean on a dark and somewhat refreshing atmospheric note.

Exhibiting some of the most beastly riffs of their career, “Raiigin” starts off slow and rolling, almost like a Sleep song. As the song progresses, it goes from a creeping sludgyness into post hardcore territory, with the vocals literally ripping a new eardrum in the listener. “Raiigin” ends quickly but transitions wonderfully into the near opus of “Water Becomes Fire.” Classic loud-quite-loud structure riddles this seven minute closer, with violin delivering a ballad-eque quality to the track. A brutal vocality dually acted out by James Farwell and Dan And all of a sudden comes on the attack, being a harshly welcome juxtaposition to the mildness of the atmospheric tones.

Diverse in the way it mingles Bison’s previous sounds, You Are Not The Ocean, You Are The Patient is one of band’s most accessible albums yet. By blending sonic elements soft and harsh, different textures are inadvertently created during the process, making it even more enjoyable to listen to.