This reviews the new Talia Hoit album “Oceans,” released on November 21, and available on all platforms.
We were chatting to Talia back in April 2023 when she was releasing her single “Abandon,” I think, although I was not the one doing the chatting!
Talia Hoit is an American singer-songwriter from Colorado. She was classically trained at a young age, and now she writes songs and various symphonic metal compositions (fans of Evanescence would connect). She has contributed to bands for the last two decades and also has a collection of solo works. Alongside a talented group of producers and musicians, she is bringing more of her most personal and intimate solo songs to life. “Abandon,” is a track in which the listener can immerse themselves in the haunting emotion, but its not one that made it onto the album.
Fans of the hard rock outfit Anadies will remember her as their keyboardist and co-songwriter. She recorded the 2004 album “Formamentum” with them, along with the 2006 EP “Catalyst.” She has a formidable music CV, having been with the Chamber Singers of the Colorado Springs Chorale for five years.
This is here solo album and the press release tells me that it boasts a stellar line-up featuring Mat Plekhanov on guitar (DRAGONY), Roland Navratil on drums (ATROCITY, LEAVES EYES, EDENBRIDGE), and Max Stoner on bass and rhythm guitar. All album tracks are produced by Frank Pitters (VISIONS OF ATLANTIS, DEEP SUN, EDENBRIDGE) and Talia Hoit, all written by her and all thematically connected to the nautical theme. Oceans embraces a symphonic submersion into the shifting tides of human emotions, addressing topics of slow-moving love landing upon rocky shores, the vast and empty void of loss, steadfastness amidst turbulent waves, and the triumph of the human spirit.
Therefore, wearing my most seafaring hat, I plunged into a listen.
My Review:
“Castaway” opens the album. It is a commercial piece of symphonic metal, one that I feel rock radio would grab. Talia has a neat vocal delivery and the drums provide a powerful heartbeat before the violins lift us.
“Unanchored” took me into the world of Pirates of the Caribbean, although I am certain that was not the intention! It definitely led me to the waves, and the track has a great melody; it was quite uplifting and very listenable. It epitimised an album that is full of depth.
“Ocean” mixes heavy hitting rock with soaring beauty. “An Ocean of Love” belongs with this one and Talia promises to take us through the storms. There is a lot to engage with on all the tracks here and this one is no exception, multi-layered and flying high.
“Whispers in the Storm” appeared on my Spotify version of the album (mind you, Spotify can just decide to do its own thing sometimes) but caught me out as it wasn’t down on my press release version!. It is a hard-hitting piece; the guitar finds a neat riff and the vocal performance shows the meeting of classical training with the world of rock.
“Beautiful” is very much what is promised in the title: a slower rock ballad style . The track is reflective, has some sadness within the lyrics (“my heart is like a seashell shattered in the sand), and a depth in the instrumentalization and vocals that fly over these emotions.
“Stolen” opens with a melancholic and rather beautiful melody, simple keys and a haunting etherial quality to the vocals before the drums join. It is the call of sirens on the wind and is a damn good song.
“Abyss” tumbles us over the edge of the abyss. It is emotionally charged and an anchor-type song for the album as a whole.
“VastDeep” is a fast track, a song in a hurry! The drums kick up a bit of a storm and the energy crackles around this one.
“Island of Hope” has a power behind it, a tough rockier edge. I found that although its message is that ‘everything is harder than it seems’ there is the drive within the song taking it forward, a neat guitar break too! The video for this one I include below.
“Infinity” is like a ticking clock as winter winds blow. “A Sad Song’s Best for Winter,” I think Shakespeare says in “Winter’s Tale,” and this song infuses the sadness of winter into the thoughts of yesterday. It is a clever song; I really liked it, although other numbers have more commercial appeal.
“Significance” closes the piece with a big production number. Plenty of storm, power and a memory created! It brings the curtain down in style.
In summary, I am not saying this is a concept album per se, but certain strands do hold it together, aside from the nautical theme. Talia Hoit is a very talented musician and alongside her co-writer Frank Pitters, she has created a true sonic boom of an album. It is vast in concept and the execution is on the nail. It’s a fine debut.
Standout tracks: “Castaway,” “Infinity,” and “Unanchored.”
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You can stream the album and music from Talia Hoit here
By Stevie Ritson