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The boys from We Are the Ocean aren't exactly what you'd call well known. Still being a relatively new band, they haven't managed to dance in mainstream circles, yet. But if their new release 'Cutting Our Teeth' is anything to go by - and if there's any justice in the post-hardcore world - they soon will be. In fact, if they could only become known for one thing, it should be their lyrical ability and power.

One of the first things you collide with on the first listen to the album is the beauty and poignancy of the lyrics reaching you through the dynamic voice duo of Dan Brown and Liam Cromby: one to scream and one to sing, not unlike the Petit/Green dynamic of Alexisonfire. There's so much going on in the first track, 'Look Alive'; it is distinctly 'busy', but in an incredible way. As soon as Dan breaks in with the first line, 'Well I am hoping that today I'll learn how to live my life, but I can't see past this crowd, but I know that I can feel it …' your heart just stops. We were not expecting this 10 seconds into the first track. And so it goes on.

Releasing their first self-titled EP in 2008, the band took off on a frenzy of tour dates including stops at Bamboozle, Taste of Chaos, Slam Dunk, and Middlesborough Music Live. Their name started to appear sweeter on the lips of those big names within their circles as the Essex 5-piece scored support slots with You Me At Six, The Used, The Blackout and Funeral for a Friend. In the thick of all this, work began on the new album … we watched and waited.

'Cutting Our Teeth' offers everything you could want from a good post-hardcore album. It's tough, it's powerful, yet it's also experimental, offering softer tones and gentler songs- this fusion setting apart post-hardcore from all other genres. If it's a powerful number you enjoy, then definitely turn on 'I Used To Be So Much More' and 'Don't Take Chances'. Softer offerings include, 'This Is Called My Home' and 'Confessions'. A definite highlight of the album lies in 'Are You Proud Of Me Now?'- everything that sounds sweet to me is cocooned in this one song; this would be the album's defining track.

Creating and recording 'Cutting Our Teeth' appeared to be more of a marathon than a sprint, with the release date changing from Summer to Autumn to Winter, but the boys eventually settled on 1st February 2010. With this, 2010 is already set to be a great year for We Are the Ocean; and this album only helps justify that. Things are definitely looking up, so watch this space.

Released 1st February 2010 on Hassle Records.