Henry Biddell - Screams/Synths/Guitar • Rico Cook - * Guitar* • Rob Allen - Drums • Sean Green - Bass • ??? ??? - Vocals
OceanGrave are a british band that blends metal with chiptune and electronic elements. Led by main songwriter and vocalist Henry Biddell, and also starring drummer Rob Allen, bassist Sean Green and guitarist Rico Cook. The band's influences stretch far and wide, the top four being In Flames, Fear Factory, Pendulum and the Sega Mega-Drive. The music creates a balance of uplifting melody and spacious atmosphere with sheer impact and immense energy. We don't know exactly what sub-genre to call it, but we consider that a good thing.
It began in late 2009 as an unnamed pet project by Henry Biddell, who was playing bass in PagesEND at the time. After writing around 12 songs by November 2011 and much persuasion from close friends, it became a band project and was named SineWave.
Henry (on Bass and Synths) recruited guitarists, Rico Cook: a longtime friend and 110% metalhead, and Matt Kateley: who enthusiastically answered Henry's joinmyband.co.uk advert within seconds of posting. They immediately began work on an EP. Eventually it was discovered that the SineWave name was already being used for a drum n bass project. The name changed to OceanGrave (after the Disarmonia Mundi song of the same name) in July 2012.
While a few instrumental recordings were made, the band went through many drummer and vocalist changes. Matt left to study at University in September 2012, but his talent and songwriting left behind a large impact that helped define the bands sound. At the end of the year, after several line-up changes, it was decided that the project be put aside, and to focus on other projects and university.
In June 2013 Henry released a new song Breaking Chains on SoundCloud with Charlotte Besley: a session vocalist with broad experience who studied at the same uni as Henry. This inspired the bands reunion that same month. In December the band played their first gig alongside guest vocalist Anna Ray.
In June 2014 they released the EP 'Breaking Chains' with Henry now taking on the "deth vocals" himself, alongside Charlotte returning on lead vocals, she would eventually become the 3rd band member. In December the 3-piece became 5 with new drummer Rob Allen: able to outplay all the previous drummers as well as Henry's drum programming; and finally guitarist Asa Carrington: who is probably the coolest djentleman we've ever met.
Expect a new release in 2015...