This time last year, Oceans of Slumber gifted fans a sneak peak at their new album with the piano medley “Poem of Fire”. The Texas trailblazers of progressive metal have never bowed to convention, but on Where Gods Fear to Speak, they reached new, dark cinematic heights. This year, the band toured North America with Lacuna Coil and New Years Day before topping the charts at college radio and critics’ year-end lists.
Today, Oceans of Slumber are putting a bow on 2024 with one of their cherished covers. Their faithful-but-still-groundshaking rendition of “Alone” was recorded at Houston’s Southwing Audio during the same session as last year’s fiery piano medley.
Watch Oceans of Slumber cover Heart’s #1 hit “Alone”.
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While originally written in 1983 by proven hitmakers Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, “Alone” wasn’t inducted into the pop culture cannon until it became a popular cover. Valerie Stevenson and John Stamos recorded the song for the short-lived rock band CBS sitcom Dreams the year before sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson turned it into Heart’s second Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper.
Oceans of Slumber remain faithful to the spirit of Heart’s beloved power ballad. Underground metalheads will always recognize him as the drummer for grindcore legends Insect Warfare, but Dobber Beverly is also a classically trained pianist who composed every note on Where Gods Fear to Speak. His nimble fingers dutifully recite the song’s gentle opening, twirling amidst Cammie Beverly’s solitary calls like snowfall.
“Dobber heard me sing ‘Alone’ one night at karaoke and thought it’d be cool for us to cover it”, Cammie remembers.
Of course, Oceans of Slumber aren’t ones to play directly to the script. Chris Kritikos cranks the power chords to a truly heart-pounding level, while Semir Ozerkan lays down a headbanging bass line. A classic, high-flying, heavy metal guitar solo from Alex Davis clears the runaway for Cammie, whose booming cleans could fill the loneliest of nights.
“When we got together, we decided to make our version of ‘Alone’ heavier by leaning into Oceans of Slumber’s sound”, Cammie continues. “By the time we finished recording, it felt like we’d really transformed the song, giving it new weight and energy while still keeping its heart intact”.
