Atanaria
Oversize’s latest album, Vital Signs, delivers a lush, immersive soundscape packed with distorted guitars and moody atmospheres. However, while the sonic textures are undeniably appealing, the album struggles with memorability and emotional depth, preventing it from reaching its full potential.
Stylistically, Vital Signs falls into the realm of alt-rock and metal-adjacent shoegaze, drawing easy comparisons to bands like Deftones, Superheaven, and Title Fight. The band leans heavily into rich, reverb-drenched guitar layers that create an enveloping sound but rarely build to something truly dynamic. The rhythm section, though competent, largely maintains a workmanlike presence, rarely pushing the music into unexpected or exciting territory.
One of the album’s biggest drawbacks is the vocal production. The vocals sit deep in the mix, making it difficult to latch onto any distinct melodies or hooks. This makes the songs blend together, as no particular track stands out as an obvious lead single. Thematically, Vital Signs explores grief, but despite the weighty subject matter, the music often feels emotionally distant, never quite delivering the gut-punch its themes suggest.
That said, there are highlights. “The Incline” offers a rare sense of propulsion, “From The Hell” plays with song structure in an interesting way, and the title track, which closes the album, stretches beyond the 5-minute mark to experiment with more complex interplay between instruments. Unfortunately, even these moments stop short of breaking new ground, leaving the album feeling somewhat restrained.
Vital Signs is an enjoyable listen in the moment, thanks to its rich production and well-crafted sonic layers. But once it ends, little lingers. It’s an album that sounds great but lacks the staying power to make a lasting impact. Oversize show promise, but Vital Signs ultimately falls short of being truly unforgettable.
