Jam Man take: New Jersey’s Ocean of Illusions are pushing into the kind of extreme-metal mix that can hit both technical and brutally direct: melodic death metal, djent, groove and breakdowns built for a live room. Their new Nexus EP arrives October 30, and “Ash Hoarder” is the newest look at where the band is headed.
Official Press Release
Ocean of Illusions will release Nexus on October 30 through Bleeding Art Collective. The band says the EP was built around each member bringing their own style into one connected project.
The New Jersey group has been developing its sound since the 2022 debut Unrecognizable, drawing from European melodic death metal, djentcore and New York death metal. Their earlier “Doomed” video has reached more than 129,000 views on Slam Worldwide.
The new song “Ash Hoarder” explores the dual nature of fire—something that can bring warmth or destruction—and puts a heavy focus on riffs, groove and movement.
Track list:
1. Nexus
2. Doomed
3. Imminent Incursion
4. Ash Hoarder
5. A Breath To Conquer The World
6. Illuminating In Pain
Ocean of Illusions: Zachary Howard — vocals; Kedwin Ramirez — drums; Kevin Kim — guitar.
Press release supplied by Earsplit PR.
Update — October 29, 2026: Full EP Streaming Early
Rocking With Jam Man: New Jersey’s OCEAN OF ILLUSIONS have put all six tracks of Nexus online ahead of the EP’s October 30 release through Bleeding Art Collective. The early stream comes via Decibel, and the band leans into a collision of death metal, djent, melodic passages and breakdowns. Dave Ricco of Face Yourself mixed and mastered the release.
Official Press Release — October 28 Update
OCEAN OF ILLUSIONS: Decibel Magazine Premieres Nexus From New Jersey Death Metal Merchants; EP To Drop October 30th Via Bleeding Art Collective
Photo by Wesley Robin
Stream OCEAN OF ILLUSIONS’ Nexus EP early HERE.
Decibel Magazine is currently streaming Nexus, the latest EP from New Jersey death metal merchants OCEAN OF ILLUSIONS, in its relentless entirety. The premiere comes in advance the EP’s official release this Friday, October 30th via Bleeding Art Collective.
OCEAN OF ILLUSIONS has been pushing the boundaries of the extreme music genre since their inception, as captured on their debut album Unrecognizable (2022) and single release “Helminth.” Layered dynamics, pit-inducing hooks, and crushing breakdowns all find a place in the band’s repertoire. Traversing influences that range from European melodic death metal, through to djentcore and New York death metal, OCEAN OF ILLUSIONS can pull together these broad influences to manifest a sound that stands apart.
With the release of the new singles “Nexus” and “Doomed” in 2025, and the video for “Doomed” reaching 129K views on Slam Worldwide, the band has further expanded and refined their sound, where moments of introspection, weight, and massive groove all combine to deliver the band’s best work to date.
Having shared the stage with titans such as The Black Dahlia Murder, Ingested, The Last Ten Seconds Of Life, Bodysnatcher, and others, OCEAN OF ILLUSIONS has now partnered with Bleeding Art Collective for the release of Nexus, just in time for Halloween.
Comments the band on Nexus, “This release is a culmination of our individual styles and preferences of music taste. No matter where you stand on the spectrum of heavy extreme music, we can assure you there is something on this EP just for you. Take the time to listen and find a piece of music that resonates with you. This EP continues our cosmic journey following the divine entity known as the World Eater that presented in our previous album, Unrecognizable. This EP provides different perspectives of its havoc across time and space. Offering different stories for those affected by the calamity and its horrors, we explore the themes of love, greed, loss, resilience and more. This release is a perfect balance between cosmic dread and hope for a new future.”
Decibel Magazine champions, “…a heavy dose of reality, and some even heavier grooves and crushing breakdowns,” adding, “This trio… offers up a dynamic mix of extreme sounds countered with moments of beauty. The six-song effort we’re previewing here is an eclectic combination of the songwriting forces in the band, and their varied influences. At its heart, though, it’s laden with drop-tuned brutality and harsh, enraged vocals.”
Stream OCEAN OF ILLUSIONS’ Nexus EP early HERE.
Watch the band’s previously released video for “Doomed” HERE and the “Ash Hoarder” lyric videoHERE.
OCEAN OF ILLUSIONS’ Nexus was mixed and mastered by Dave Ricco of Face Yourself and will be released digitally.
Find presaves HERE.
Nexus EP Track Listing:
1. Nexus
2. Doomed
3. Imminent Incursion
4. Ash Hoarder
5. A Breath To Conquer The World
6. Illuminating In Pain
OCEAN OF ILLUSIONS:
Zachary Howard – vocals
Kedwin Ramirez – drums
Kevin Kim – guitar
For OCEAN OF ILLUSIONS coverage inquiries, contact liz@earsplitcompound.com.
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https://www.bleedingartcollective.com