Ocean Grove (band)
Ocean Grove | |
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Origin | Melbourne, Australia |
Genres | |
Years active | 2010 | –present
Labels | |
Members |
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Past members |
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Website | oceangrove |
Ocean Grove are an Australian nu metalcore band formed in 2010. The band consists of the core trio of vocalist Dale Tanner, drummer/producer/guitarist Sam Bassal, and bassist/vocalist Brent "Twiggy" Hunter, alongside studio-only members Luke "Poochy" Holmes and guitarist/producer Matthew "Running Touch" Kopp.
As of 2024, the band has released three studio albums; The Rhapsody Tapes (2017), Flip Phone Fantasy (2020), and Up in the Air Forever (2022) through UNFD, and Oddworld (2024) through SharpTone Records.
History
[edit]2010–2016: formation and EPs
[edit]Ocean Grove were formed in 2010 in Melbourne, originally as a post-hardcore band by Luke Holmes (lead vocals), Dale Tanner (vocals/bass), Running Touch, Jimmy Hall (guitar) and Matias Morales (drums). This line-up released a demo in 2010, followed by their debut extended play, Outsider in 2013, before Morales departed the band later that year and was replaced by Sam Bassal. A single was released in late 2013 called "The Dead Years". In 2014, Running Touch stopped touring with the band to focus on his solo project, while remaining as a studio member and Matt Henley was brought in as their new live guitarist. On 12 June 2015, the band released their second extended play, Black Label, which peaked at No. 50 on the ARIA Albums Chart.[1] It was followed by the Black Label Tour around Australia in July 2015 with support from Devastator and Void of Vision.[2] The band was a supporting act, alongside Like Moths to Flames, Buried in Verona and August Burns Red for Northlane's headlining Australian tour in November 2015.[3] In 2016, Ocean Grove supported both In Hearts Wake and Northlane on their "Equinox" dual-headlining tour.
2016–2018: The Rhapsody Tapes
[edit]On 27 April 2016, the band had signed with UNFD and released a new single, "Lights on Kind of Lover".[4] The EP Black Label was released the United States and Europe under the revised title, Black Label (Sublime Vol.), with "Lights on Kind of Lover" included.[5]
On 1 December 2016, Ocean Grove released a new single, "These Boys Light Fires".[6] On 21 December they released another single, "Intimate Alien", along with its music video and announced that they would release their debut album, The Rhapsody Tapes, on 3 February 2017.[7] Upon its release The Rhapsody Tapes reached No. 5 on the ARIA Albums Chart in its first week,[1][8][9] and was selected as a "Feature Album" by Australian radio station, Triple J.[10]
On 24 May 2017, Ocean Grove announced their national headlining tour, which spanned from 4 to 12 August with support from Justice for the Damned, Broken, and the Beverly Chills.[11] The band then went on to support Northlane on their Mesmer World Tour across Europe and the United Kingdom, alongside Erra and Invent Animate, from 23 November to 16 December 2017. This was followed up directly by their first appearance in the USA, supporting August Burns Red on their 38-date 'The Phantom Anthem Tour', alongside Born of Osiris and Erra in January and February 2018.
Ocean Grove were one of the bands that performed at the first ever Download Festival Australia at Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse on 24 March 2018,[12] as well as playing shows that same week in Sydney, Brisbane, and Adelaide supporting Limp Bizkit and Of Mice & Men.[13]
2018–2021: line-up changes and Flip Phone Fantasy
[edit]On 2 May 2018, Ocean Grove signed a worldwide publishing deal with BMG.[14] In an interview with Depth magazine, Dale Tanner revealed that the band was working on material for a new album,[15] then stating in a separate interview with Spotlight Report that a new single would come out later in the year with a new album possibly coming out in 2019.[16]
On 14 December 2018, Ocean Grove released a new single "Glass Gloss", and announced that vocalist Luke Holmes and guitarist Jimmy Hall would be leaving the band and will be performing with the band for the last time at the Unify Gathering on 11 January 2019, with the band continuing on as a four-piece.[17]
On 3 February 2019, the band released a teaser for their new member in the style of the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater character selection menu.[18] On 4 February 2019, they premiered a new single, 'Ask for the Anthem' and announced the addition of Twiggy Hunter to the lineup as bassist and backing vocalist, with Dale Tanner moving to full-time frontman.[19] On 1 October 2021, the band announced the departure of live guitarist Matt Henley.[20]
2022-present: Up in the Air Forever, Oddworld, and return of Holmes and Kopp
[edit]In January 2022, the group announced their third studio album, Up in the Air Forever will be released on 22 April 2022. The album was proceeded by the singles "Cali Sun", "Silver Lining" and "Sex Dope Gold", and featured a more melodic alternative rock-influenced sound.[21]
In May 2024, the band announced the launch of their own label, ODDWORLD Records, while also officially signing to SharpTone Records. Ocean Grove released the single "Fly Away" that May and "My Disaster" in July of 2024, showcasing a more aggressive metalcore influence within their nu metal sound.[22] In August of that year, they released the single "Raindrop" and announced their fourth album (and first for SharpTone), Oddworld, released on 22 November 2024.[23] Alongside this, the band officially announced the return of Luke Holmes on vocals and Matthew Kopp on guitar in-studio.[24]
Style
[edit]Ocean Grove's musical style is generally considered as nu metal,[25][26] grunge,[25][26][27] nu metalcore[27] and hardcore punk.[26][27] The band themselves often describe their sound as "Odd World Music" and reference it as such in their lyrics.[26][28]
Band members
[edit]
Current members
Touring musicians
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Former members
Former touring musicians
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Timeline
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
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AUS [1] | ||
The Rhapsody Tapes |
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5 |
Flip Phone Fantasy |
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8 |
Up in the Air Forever |
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8 [30] |
Oddworld |
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To be charted |
Extended plays
[edit]Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
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AUS[1] | ||
Outsider |
|
— |
Black Label |
|
50 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Discography Ocean Grove". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- ^ "Ocean Grove 'Black Label' Tour w/ Void of Vision & Devastator". facebook.com.
- ^ "Northlane announce headline tour with support of August Burns Red, Ocean Grove + more!". speakertv.com. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
- ^ "Ocean Grove Sign To UNFD". UNFD. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- ^ "To coincide with the release of Black Label: Sublime Volume in US/Europe & our partnering..." Ocean Grove Melbourne FaceBook Page. 26 April 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- ^ "Ocean Grove Release New Single 'These Boys Light Fires'". unfdcentral.com. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ "Ocean Grove Announce Debut Album The Rhapsody Tapes". unfdcentral.com.
- ^ "Ocean Grove 'The Rhapsody Tapes' debuts at #5 on the ARIA chart". 20 February 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- ^ "ARIA Charts Media Release (11 February 2017)" (PDF). aria.com.au. 11 February 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
- ^ "Feature Album The Rhapsody Tapes". Triple J. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- ^ "Ocean Grove Announce 2017 'The Rhapsody Tapes' National Tour". musicfeeds.com.au. 24 May 2017.
- ^ "Download Festival Australia 2018 Lineup Announced". musicfeeds.com.au. 8 November 2017.
- ^ "Limp Bizkit Announce Download Festival Australia 2018 Sideshows With Huge Supports". musicfeeds.com.au. 7 December 2017.
- ^ "AU: Ocean Grove Sign To BMG". BMG. 2 May 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ "Ocean Grove: Interview with Dale Tanner". Depth Magazine. 2 July 2018.
- ^ "Interview: Dale Tanner of Ocean Grove". Spotlight Report. 5 July 2018.
- ^ "Ocean Grove drop thumping new single 'Glass Gloss' and announce shocking departures of Luke and Jimmy". WallOfSoundAU. 13 December 2018.
- ^ brownypaul (3 February 2019). "Ocean Grove have started teasing their newest member following Luke and Jimmy's departure last month". Wall Of Sound. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
- ^ Al Newstead (6 February 2019). "First Spin: The new-look Ocean Grove unleash 'Ask For The Anthem'". ABC. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
- ^ Ocean Grove [@oceangrovemelb] (1 October 2021). "It's with heavy lil hearts that we must announce the departure of our guitarist, Matt Henley AKA Sketta AKA Red" (Tweet). Retrieved 1 October 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Mack, Emma (18 January 2022). "Ocean Grove Announce New Album Up in the Air Forever". Music Feeds. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ "OCEAN GROVE Announce Label Launch + Release New Track 'Fly Away'". Good Call Live. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
- ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/C_MjDx_TfLc/?igsh=MTBvZThkNzY5ajk0dw== [bare URL]
- ^ "Ocean Grove has been and will always be Sam Bassal, Luke Holmes, Twiggy Hunter, Matthew Kopp & Dale Tanner". Instagram. 29 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Ocean Grove – The Rhapsody Tapes (Review)". KillYourStereo.
- ^ a b c d "Ocean Grove: "We're trying to change perceptions"". loudersound.com. 30 May 2017.
- ^ a b c "ALBUM REVIEW: 'The Rhapsody Tapes' by Ocean Grove". 6 February 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- ^ "OCEAN GROVE". UNFD. 2 May 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ "Ocean Grove - Outsider". Discogs.
- ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 2 May 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.