The 4th Oak album The Third Sleep was released on Karisma Records on April 25, 2025. The new album, “continues the band’s development from The Quiet Rebellion of Compromise, lyrically; delving deeper into the dark corridors of the mind. The form is suggestive and poetic, with room for interpretation within certain boundaries”.
“The Third Sleep” is also more outward facing than its introspective predecessor, with socially critical lyrics that demand the listener’s attention and an ability to read between the lines. Extensive use of modal scales, intricate vocal harmonies, and polyrhythms characterize the compositions. One goal has been to use these techniques in a way that does not feel forced or complicating, but allows the music to flow and captivate, while also challenging and offering the listener multiple layers to explore”.
This Norwegian progressive pop/rock band, Oak, is from Oslo, Norway. They perfectly combine folk-inspired acoustic rock with the brutal and at times even black metal.
Oak’s line-up includes musicians: Simen Valldal Johannessen, who sings lead vocals and plays keyboards; Stephan Hvinden, who plays guitars; Øystein Sootholtet, who plays bass; and Sigbjørn Reiakvam, who plays drums.
“The Third Sleep’, opens with one of its best songs, “No Such Thing”. It is over 6 minutes of interesting melodies and sounds. It starts off fast with bass, guitars, and fast drums. Simen Valldal Johannessen’s voice is deeper than most other lead vocalists in the world of prog, which is a welcome nuance. He sings, “My winter sleep. A hideout under snow. Pale fingers dig through frozen floors. I’m yours to keep. A seed refused to grow. Cold water flows from clouded, open eyes. All the stories. I’ve been told. All the secrets that I hold. Feeds the earth as I pour them out. Silent whisper meets the ground. Pull me under watch me drown. Hazed, indifferent we long for more”. They add some woodwinds that kind of remind you of some of Supertramp’s jazzier moments. Simen returns, “Who let them in. To root the evil out. Who sets it right. When darkness eats the light”. The constant piano drive is a welcomed touch. They add some backing spoken shouts on a megaphone, like some of the parts you remember from Pink Floyd’s “The Wall. My introduction to Oak leaves a good first impression. The strings and supporting soundscapes make this song magical.
“London”, starts off a little heavier with bass and electric guitar mixed well with drums. Simen sings, “Can you remember where we used to go the moon above would let us know. It all remains inside the empty house. Detaining hearts in wooden chests. Through tinted windows in the parking lot. He asks for guidance cause the lights are out. Is this the way back home or am I lost. If I could stay with them just through this night. I found the door but now the keys are lost. Through falling snow the stars align. The sound of laughter seeping through the walls from years ago and lost in time. Dark, as the night outside. Seeing our ghosts by the warming fire. Into the light, into the lights we go. Fearless, falling, we all resign”. Reminiscing of days gone by, wandering through London in the winter chill. The piano is wonderful amidst all the background megaphone narratives echoing from the corridors of the city.
“Run Into the Sun”, is another of the best songs on the album. It has the best melody and sound. Simen sings, “Follow me outside you belong to me. Out in the low tide and across the sea. Swim in your white dress, it weighs you down. Shimmering lights as I watch you drown. And you will be gone. When the night crawls out of my shadow. Hands are holding on. Open mouth, mute cries in the water. Thrown into the sun. By the hands that were tied to the other. Turn around and run, turn around and run. Made me a halo from your broken dreams. Blood on the needle for golden seams. Burn all my bridges and go to war. Counting the waves as you wash ashore. Uncertainty, eternally”. A tragic song, set to a good pace with similar music and instrumentation. They add flute to augment the sound. The piano is perfect. The Beach Boy like vocal harmonies are also wonderful near the end. Especially so soon after the passing of Brian Wilson.
“Shimmer”, opens with a melody that reminded me of Poland’s Amarok Hope. Simen sings, “Patience running low the wheel is still turning. Desperate and slow. A heart that’s still yearning. Morning never came; there’s stars in the water. Chasing hollow fame in circles of”. The Supertramp woodwinds return for some more great reminders. Simen continues, “Crawls from the ground below, under my skin. As I’m diving in. Breathe what you’re dying for, a way out. Down and around we go, holding back. True, controlled, on track. This is worth lying for, a way out. Whisper at the sun to part the clouds. Hanging feet will run and wake the crowds. The ghost by my side. Is buried deep. Centuries collide. In restless sleep”. Then, the close with a wonderful piano instrumental, supported for a while with grinding guitar. Then acoustic guitar supports the piano, as flute enters the soundscape. They add those ancient early prog keyboard effects, to coat this with a fine veneer.
“Shapeshifter”, opens with solid, slow electric and acoustic guitar. Simen sings, “The dust in these aching exploding eyes. Eyelids of ashes to keep the sun out. A mouth full of needles deploying lies. A thirst for salt water to flush it out. Enemies and lost truths. I broke the seal and let them run. Wasted in a layby. All promises and deeds undone”. Powerful drums and electric guitar provide a short interlude to separate this track into two parts. Simen sings, “The lust we are faking – eroding ties. The paths we are taking, to make it out. It shines in the darkness, forgotten child. It dreams of clear waters and fading lights. Enemies and lost truths. This is my return, like many times before would you hold the flame as I go. And you know what they say. Your eyes when they close. It was more than anyone could take”. Those powerful winter walks in the snow, accompanied by snow falling sounds of organ, as the winter months drag on in Norway. This one also has some excellent electric guitar shredding towards the song’s end.
Light and speedy piano keys open, “Borders”, along with some great deep drums and bass. Simen sings, Lights on winters pale skies. Veiled in snow, the towers of gold. Ghosts of fall, in silence they grow. Plague and cold, ascending all thrones. In the waves of anxiety, we are unmoved in piety. Hollow sacrifice wading in the deep. Children born in the flashing lights. As we mourn through the starry nights. Falling in the need of absent friends. (Were coming). (Keep breathing). Post and pray. Benighted and vain. Bend and sway in winds of rage. Ships set sail as trains roll by. Lost and frail, through silence and snow. In the waves of anxiety, we are unmoved in piety. Blind destruction that washed ashore. Falling in the need of absent friends”. A powerful song about the long, Northern winter’s toll.
“Sensory Overload”, is the album closer. At over 8 minutes it is also the longest song on the album. It opens full of power drums and hard played piano keys. Simen sings, “Why are the nights so cold? What makes my eyes glow? Not like the rest, you should have guessed. It falls on me to lead the way. I’m in your dreams and on display. The sun in the sky so fucking special. Elevate in neon sunlight in silver and gold (save me from growing old). Kneel with me they’re gone tomorrow. They’re rain in the clouds”. Electric guitar riffs pour in. Then Simen returns, “One comes of age and falls behind. One reads a book that blows his mind. The line is too long, they’re all something special. What is the secret to those perfect thighs? What made the scars behind those lying eyes? I had a vision, and it made me whole. A revelation for my diamond soul. A set of knives and all this flawless skin. So little time to find the truth within. Some broken glass and all your favorite songs. The journey ends it where it all belongs. Straight from birth into the line. We had a path and now our downfall. All for all and one by one into fame and despair”. Those drums just never quit, which is most appreciated. Then, growling vocals and a cacophony of sounds, instead of the powerful piano and drums to take us out…
The Oak’s “The Third Sleep”, is extensively a good progressive rock album. Nothing exceptional, but good comforting music for the long nights and cold winters of Norway. The growl at the end of the closer, almost ruined the song, But there was enough goodwill primed, to save the song and album. Besides, now that you know the growls are coming, just turn down the song and end it yourself, when the piano and drums fade. So, no, major errors, but no major innovative parts to remember. The drumming throughout the album is great and so is the piano. Simen Valldal Johannessen’s vocals are unique and a new sound, as long as he keeps it real and doesn’t try to attack the soundscape with growls. Oak’s “The Third Sleep”, is a good progressive rock album that I’d recommend, for the long winter…snowbound.
Album Track List:
1. No Such Thing (6:06)
2. London (4:20)
3. Run Into the Sun (5:34)
4. Shimmer (7:36)
5. Shapeshifter (7:58)
6. Borders (6:24)
7. Sensory Overload (8:12)
Band Website and Social Media Links:
https://oakinoslo.bandcamp.com/album/the-third-sleep
https://www.facebook.com/oakinoslo
YouTube and Music Video Links:
https://www.youtube.com/user/OakInOslo