Ocean Sleeper

Pummeling drums, mammoth riffs, guttural screams, and anthemic choruses are the norm for Rural Victoria-based Australian metalcore outfit Ocean Sleeper. Blasting onto the underground scene in 2016 with the release of Breaking Free, the group cemented their position as one of Australia's finest homegrown talents with the release of 2019's long-player Don't Leave Me This Way. Hailing from the rural Gippsland region in southeastern Australia, the group -- Karl Spiessl (vocals), Ionei Heckenberg (guitars/vocals), Stan Liagourdis (guitar), and Jarred Robson (drums) -- came together in 2016 and quickly made a mark with their debut, Breaking Free. Within six months of the release, the band were booked to play the alternative festival Unify in 2017, dropping their debut EP, Six Feet Down, at the same time. With the group's impressive display of brutal but anthemic metal winning over fans, the band headed out on a national sold-out tour before also playing support slots with the likes of Stray from the Path and Deez Nuts. By 2018, the group had headed out to Portland, Oregon to start recording their debut album with Kris Crummett (Sleeping with Sirens, Dance Gavin Dance). Before its release, Ocean Sleeper hit the road on a national tour with Dream on Dreamer and the Getaway Plan, as well as playing their first overseas show, headlining the Heartown Rockfest in Taiwan. The debut album, Don't Leave Me This Way, followed at the end of 2019, preceded by the singles "Killing Me" and "Light in My Dark." ~ Rich Wilson