Emerging from the coastal city of Virginia Beach, Ocean Asylum are rising from the underground with a daring take on progressive metal with their emotionally charged debut EP Committed, released in November 2024. What began as a Dillinger Escape Plan cover project quickly blossomed into something far more ambitious and personal. With a lineup solidified by the addition of frontman Rickey Fowl and a shared vision for musical experimentation, the band has channeled their individual influences into a cohesive sound. In this interview, the quartet opens up about their origins, the creative chemistry that fuels their writing, and where their evolving journey is headed next.
How did Ocean Asylum evolve from a fun Dillinger Escape Plan cover band into a full-fledged progressive metal act with original material?
Rickey (vocals): I might have had an influence. Before I had my first audition, and they had sent me a few untitled songs that have become staples in Committed, and I realized I might be in over my head! My background is classic rock and reggae, I had never thought I would be shifting in the metal genre. I sure did let them know that I might not be the kind of vocalist they were after… but we found a groove for sure, and I have taken joy in challenging myself!
Wes (guitars): Rob (drums) and I were both writing original music well before we started doing covers together. We both had tons Guitar Pro files with various riffs and song ideas we had accumulated during, after, and through the pandemic. One day after practice, Rob showed me some of his original stuff and I was like, “Holy shit dude! This stuff is killer!” I showed him my original material and he really liked it. So, we both quickly arrived at the same conclusion: This is what our band should doing. The rest is history.
What was the turning point when you realized this project had the potential to be something more than just a cover band?
The moment Rickey joined was the turning point. We had several original pieces written and ready to go, I just had to add lyrics and vocals. It also helps that we genuinely enjoy each others’ company, it’s fun to hang out with your friends while also producing some tunes!
We knew we wanted to work on those ideas. But we weren’t sure if the other band members we had at the time would also want to go down that path. Once we had Austin (bass) in the band and he expressed interest in doing original music, that solidified things. That’s when we knew we had the core line-up on our respective instruments. We went through a few singers before we found our guy. The addition of Rickey elevated things and opened up way more possibilities for the vocals.
How did adding Rickey as a vocalist change the band’s creative direction and overall sound?
For most part, the instrumental side of things remained consistent after Rickey joined. Overall, we still have the same creative vision as before. That being said, Rob did introduce some musical ideas that wouldn’t have worked prior to Rickey taking over vocal duties. Those ideas have since turned into full songs, like “Make Me Human”. We have another song titled “Acceptance” that’ll be on our second album which will be coming out within the next few months. I think people will be pleasantly surprised by that song. I think it really showcases our commitment to not being boxed in creatively. It shows our range and the diversity of our sound.
Your music blends progressive metal’s complexity with classic rock’s soaring vocals. Was that an intentional goal from the start, or did it develop naturally over time?
Oooh soaring vocals, how eloquent! (thanks!) I don’t think it was originally intentional, but it’s hard to move totally away from your backgrounds, so when we all put our heads together we find something that works for all of us. Natural music progression!
Committed was mastered by Jamie King, who’s worked with bands like Between the Buried and Me and The Contortionist. What was it like working with him, and how did his influence shape the final product?
We were lucky because Rob had worked with him for his previous band. He did an excellent job mixing the guitar tracks. I wrote up a pretty detailed explanation of the tone I wanted and I even provided reference songs. Rob passed that information on to Jamie who absolutely nailed it. I think we went through three or four iterations before we got to the final mix. But the guitars were perfect in the first iteration. I was very happy. I remember talking to Rob about it and he said Jamie really liked the sound of the raw guitar tracks. We used an Ibanez Tube Screamer in front of Mesa Dual Rectifier amp and Mesa 4×12 cab. I think there’s something special about the sound you get with that setup. And Jamie knew exactly what to do it!
The song “Penance” features Adam Warren of Oceano. How did that collaboration come about, and what did he bring to the track?
Rob reached out to him and he really liked the song. I think Adam was excited to do some vocal stuff outside of what you might expected from him. I think he wanted to showcase his range and abilities beyond his amazing gutterals and screams. And I think he nailed it. He was a pleasure to work with. His passion for music and the creative process really showed, especially during that Twitch livestream.
We knew we needed something a little extra at the height of the song. He brought a dynamic that I (at the time) could not bring with the blending of his harsh fry vocals and lower growls. We watched him write, produce, and sing the song in real time on his Twitch stream, it was epic to watch the process unfold!
Committed has been described as rhythmically intense and precise. Can you break down the writing process behind one of the tracks and how you achieved that level of detail?
Rickey: We are intentionally precise in some ways, and perfectly messy in others. I wrote the lyrics to “Voluntary Excommunication” with a couple of famous evangelical pastors in mind, who take advantage of people that are vulnerable and seeking answers… And the perspective is getting cast out and set aside with a sly smile. This definitely comes across as anti-religion, but it’s far more “anti-megalomaniac-preacher” (false idols crave real attention). The mid portion of the track, we imagined a modern day Martin Luther with a megaphone trying to get a rise out of the masses that asks questions and is burned for it biblically. I definitely cannot take 100% of the credit for all the lyrics though! In certain sections you can hear us all…
Wes: “Voluntary Excommunication” started out as one of those Guitar Pro files Rob showed me before we switched from covers to originals. Rob sent me the Guitar Pro file and together, we worked on the structure and overall arrangement of the song. Rob plays drums, bass and guitar, so most of the parts were already written. I think I may have tweaked a riff or two. Just small changes. Rob intentionally left space in there for me and Austin to do our thing. The writing process for the other 3 tracks on Committed was pretty much the same. At least that’s how we handled the instrumental side. The process for vocals was different. Rickey would write lyrics and vocal melodies and everyone else would make suggestions to see if we could make the lyric or vocal melody better. Some suggestions stuck, others didn’t. It was a very democratic process. We trusted our ears and sometimes we’d weigh in the opinion of our engineer Chris from Whiskey Bear studios. We trust each other to come up with ideas that serve the song and in the end, I think everything came out great.
Progressive metal is known for its technical complexity. As musicians, how do you balance technicality with emotional impact in your songwriting?
I think that balance just comes naturally to us. And everyone has different tastes and influences, so we all contribute different and unique ideas when we’re writing. Rob seems to like dissonance. So, if you hear a really dissonant part that makes you feel tense or anxious, it was most likely Rob who came up with that part. I enjoy melodic stuff and riffs that groove, so that tends to be what I contribute. Austin challenges me and Rob with his unorthodoxed style. And Rickey adds his own flavor on top to turn it into a song. We try not to step on each other and bring a sum is better than the whole aesthetic.
Bottom line for us, “Does it sound good to us? Yes? Then we like it. Fuck Theory. We love it!” It’s another way to keep ourselves from being boxed in.
What has been the most rewarding moment for you as a band since the release of Committed?
Rickey: I love hearing professional quality streaming of my own voice. It’s a little weird for it to randomly play and I think “Oh, hey, that’s us!” As a band, it’s a leap of profound joy. We did this, we worked for it, and here is a little piece of our souls if you’ll only have a listen.
It’s so hard to keep a band together. We are brothers. We are “Committed” to this thing. To each other. This band can help the hard times for us and our families. Having the right guys has been the most rewarding.
How has the live reception been for the songs from Committed? Have they evolved in any way through live performance?
Because of the nature of our genre, we end up playing alongside bands that, quite frankly, I can’t understand what are saying. The passion is there, and the musicianship is amazing, but it’s an odd feeling to go on stage after their performance and start with “Make Me Human”. The hilarious confused looks say “Uhh I think you guys are at the wrong show” followed with the heavy start of “Voluntary Excommunication”. Seeing that reaction as the frontman always gives me an internal giggle.
People are starting to come around to our sound.
You’ve mentioned that a second release is in the works. Can you give us any hints about what to expect in terms of sound and direction?
Ooooh, there’s some heavy stuff in there both musically and emotionally. There’s a story of grief and loss to suicide, a story of emotional malice and abuse… A ballad of acceptance. I experiment a lot more in my newfound abilities with fry vocals followed by rock and punk notes. It’s a roller coaster and it has me pumped.
The second album is a natural evolution for us. The songs are even more collaborative than those from the first album. You’re gonna hear each band members’ personality and individual style come through a bit more. Everyone put their unique fingerprint on every song. And that made the songs better in my opinion.
Looking at the current progressive metal landscape, where do you see Ocean Asylum fitting in, and what do you hope to bring to the genre?
In the world of labels and ideas, I think we stand out by challenging the perception of what progression can be. Our sounds can be clean, complicated, and alluring alongside a thrash and heavier vibe. Sometimes simultaneously! I want to be able to bring that spark of joy to get people into the genre like I was.
In a way, I hope we don’t fit it. I hope we stand out. I don’t want to sound like another homogenized band. Eventually they all start to sound the same, even if they’re labeled as “progressive”. Is it progressive if you don’t progress? If you don’t evolve into something different and unique? One way to sound different and unique is the sound of the band. By that, I mean the original tones of the instruments and the mix.
Interesting riffs and rhythms, great melodies, cool chord progressions that subvert expectations while remaining cohesive to song as a whole, using interesting song structures. We want to employ all of that. We refuse to be boxed in and forced to do things the way a specific metal genre (or subgenre) dictates you should do. Music is art, man.
What’s next for the band in 2025? Any upcoming tours, collaborations, or surprises fans should be excited for?
The plan is to (hopefully) release our second album with a cool video before our June 26th show at Peabody’s in Virginia Beach. We’re playing that venue for the first time ever. It’s us and Por Vida, another amazing band from Virginia Beach. It’s a summer show at the oceanfront, so there’s the potential for a large crowd turnout. It should be fun! Tickets are on sale. Go to our Facebook page for more info. We hope to see you there.
And many shows to support it, maybe a small tour.
Committed is available on Bandcamp.
