Cautionary Tales, by The Oculist

Cautionary Tales

by The Oculist

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Cautionary Tales is the debut album from The Oculist, featuring previously released critically acclaimed singles Twelve Step Sentence, Lavender and “Prog Magazine Track of the Week” Swan Dive. The six panel DigiPak is designed to the same level of artistic detail The Oculist put into their music and completes this album’s exceptional aesthetic offering.
7 tracks
55 minutes runtime

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1.	Twelve Step Sentence 08:21	lyrics
Won’t sustain Feel no pain, just for a little while I’ll keep it a secret for as long as I can I’m so tired Just a shadow of myself The less I want The more I need (just a little more) Walking the tightrope across the fault line Fail to see the demons wrestling with me Keeping up appearances, I’m crumbling like the tenement buildings I’m parked between on the rain soaked streets in industrial estates, waiting for the man. Make the call, “Yeah five minutes mate” more like two hours, beating of the rain marks every second deafening inside my head hammering every minute on the windshield Knock on the drivers window, shit eating grin spouting some old nonsense story about “Sorry I was late because of business, anyway duty calls” and off again, just as quickly as he came. Whatever, scored now, hands trembling, as the matches flame gutters, as I peer to see the works between my knees in the iridescent glow of the light shining on the dashboard Climb the crooked stair Stone around my neck Given enough rope to hang myself Bury me in sand A mile from the shore So shallow I can feel the rain Climb the crooked stair Stone around my neck Given enough rope to hang myself Bury me in sand A mile from the shore So shallow I can feel the rain Evidence Wash away (don’t leave any trace) I know I can beat it but I need your help So ashamed, every promise that I break The lies spill off my tongue and you swallow them down, roll over for my pantomime, “haven’t eaten for days, can’t pay the rent” I’m very good at pulling on your heart strings The heart strings connected to your purse strings, I don’t want your sympathy, just want your cold hard currency, cold hard cash for stone, this horse I’m riding is a dead cert for the glue factory Crumbling like the gravestones in the cemetery, I’m kidding that’s enough of the gallows humour before I obtain enough rope to send me to the mortuary The door slams shut and the needle slides in, up to my neck, if you don’t like the reflection, don’t look in the mirror, my hands are shaking, body’s aching, mind is screaming mind is screaming mind is screaming! Climb the crooked stair Stone around my neck Given enough rope to hang myself Bury me in sand A mile from the shore So shallow I can feel the rain
2.	Terminal 08:25	lyrics
Memory Piece together how this came to be Won’t unfold I’m struggling to retain control Scribbling, From the corner of the room Dulls my sense Numbness spreading through my limbs Hands bound Feet tied Can’t hear Can’t see Way out Can’t find Someone Save me It’s terminal I’m rendered obsolete, Trapped inside a waking dream Do I try to run or admit defeat, Turn the tables on my enemy Polaroids, Random papers document my stay Have no fear, He’s the means to make you disappear Hands bound Feet tied Can’t hear Can’t see It’s terminal I’m rendered obsolete, Trapped inside a waking dream Do I try to run or admit defeat, Turn the tables on my enemy Came from behind Out of the darkness Got the jump on me Knocked out Rendered unconscious I was unsuspecting Tied to a bed Rid me of sight rid me of hearing Place hand on mouth if you wish to speak Sharp bite of piano wire 700,000 volts Tries to make me yield in mute conformity I’m never changing litmus Reduced to a memento Aghast at my incarceration I’m not your toy, I’m not your fucking plaything Rage, fill this empty vessel with the strength to survive Bite on the pain, focus the mind, every knotted sinew I must channel my energy, I must channel my energy
3.	Long Haul 06:14	lyrics
“Run” He said, his eyes were black, with a reptile smile. She plunged into the darkness. “Live or die?” He said, “make your choice” She bolted The blood is in the water. Fringes of society, Sharks begin circling. Craigslist ad, burner phone. Cash transactions. Calls her tricks on CB radio. Forced to hit the streets again. She’s rattling, as the chemical noose gets tighter. Fringes of society, Sharks begin circling We’re everywhere We could leave you anywhere Like the blood in the water The sharks begin circling
4.	The Flood 08:24	lyrics
It's here End of days From the sky Reckoning Set, Sail, Yells the Quartermaster All, Hands The sky is falling, sky is falling No more End of man Tempest comes Wash away Row Row Yells the quartermaster Row Row The seas are boiling, seas are boiling Cumulonimbus swell, circle in the sky Lightning bolts crash the ground Lashing altitude Mariana trench opens, swallows everything Typhoons and tidal waves wash it all away Sky explodes, torrential purge from above Tornados swirling sweeping all aside Rain like bullets strike your face Rebound and ricochet Mother Nature delivers her reckoning Clouds of sulphur Acid rain burning plants and trees Human race eradicated from the earth Meteors obliterate all that's in their path Land is raised to the ground in the aftershock Lightning bolts! Lightning bolts! Lightning bolts! Lightning bolts! Mast splits Set adrift Sails rip Abandon ship Hold, Fast, Yells the Quartermaster Hold, Fast The ship is sinking, ship is sinking Here comes the rain again, Wash it away again, Wipe the slate clean Cumulonimbus swell circle in the sky Lightning bolts crack the sky Lashing altitude Mariana trench opens, swallows everything Typhoons and tidal waves wash it all away Sky explodes, torrential purge from above Tornados swirling sweeping all aside Rain like bullets strike your face Rebound and ricochet Mother Nature delivers her reckoning Clouds of sulphur Acid rain burning plants and trees Human race eradicated from the earth Meteors obliterate all that's in their path Land is raised to the ground in the aftershock Lightning bolts! Lightning bolts! Lightning bolts! Lightning bolts! Hulls breached Drawing water faster Heading, straight into disaster Its Lost The ship is lost The maelstrom is descending faster The shipmates faces turn to alabaster It’s lost The ship is lost It’s lost The ship is lost
5.	King Fool 09:26	lyrics
There you stand Rock in hand Charging around with your sense of entitlement Furrowed brow Beaten down Inarticulately mumbling Bit by bit Your mask slips Lose your grip Underhand By your own hand We see the horror that lays beneath Like the blind leading the blind Charging about like a bull in a china shop Sticks and stones Break your bones Bombs do the job much more easily Rhetoric Veiled threats Tomahawks used to seem well endowed Watching the world burn down King Fool wins again Watching the world burn down King Fool wins again You’re warming your hands in the pyre Of nations gone up in fire Watching the world burn down Watching the world burn down Watching the world burn down King Fool wins again Watching the world burn down King Fool wins again You’re warming your hands in the pyre Of nations gone up in fire Watching the world burn down Watching the world burn down You can’t hide Foolish pride Do more to bite your thumb at your adversary Intimidate Nauseate Contemptuous scathing lack of humility Take the risk Ballistic Anticipatory hovering poised fingers Truculent Disrespect Reckless endangerment of the world's populous
6.	Lavender 07:50	lyrics
Oh the first time that he saw her his heart stood still, On banks where wild lavender grows. She was dancing by the shore on a summer’s day, In the shade of the weeping willow. She glanced in his direction, caught his eye and then she looked away. Now every time he closed his eyes He sees her face, and the scent still lingers For days he hid there waiting to watch me dance On banks where wild lavender grows Hidden ‘tween the boughs of the willow tree On the edge of the summer meadow I glanced in his direction, caught his eye and then I looked away Now every time I close my eyes, I see his face, and the scent still lingers Oh lavender, lavender, lavender, Brings me closer to her please linger lavender Oh lavender, lavender, lavender Brings me closer to her please linger, lavender Brings me closer my dear please linger He searched the glade for hours when she was gone, On banks where wild lavender grows To find a rose to bring her to declare his love On the edge of the summer meadow Away from me, away, you foolish boy You will never ever have my heart I’m betrothed to another from far away Together we shall never be apart Ignominious and ridiculed he stared dumbstruck at the floor She turned away and laughed at him and he’d ensure she laughed at him no more The rock was in his hand and he did what cannot be undone I fell into the water, and the dark red flowers blossomed Can’t escape the scent of Wild lavender, lavender, lavender, Blood ran through his fingers, deep ochre, don’t linger Don’t remind him of her, don’t linger pure torture Brings him closer to her lavender, lavender Brings him closer to her, don’t linger Brings him closer to her, lavender Meet you by the waters edge Be with me forever If I can’t have you no one will Sleep beneath the willow tree Meet you by the waters edge I’ll haunt you forever Because you took my life from me Sleep beneath the willow tree Meet you by the waters edge Be with me forever If I can’t have you no one will Sleep beneath the willow tree Meet you by the waters edge I’ll haunt you forever Because you took my life from me Sleep beneath the willow tree
7.	Swan Dive 06:25	lyrics
Ascend Stratosphere Silent mind Although my eyes are closed I see for miles All directions Transcendental Total detachment from self Like the waves crash on the shore beat on the land forever more I will swan dive from the edge into the void below On the precipice I stand, over seas of shifting sand I will swan dive from the edge into the void below Like the seas relentless tide Let this moment be your guide I will swan dive from the edge into the void below Rid your senses of your fear, then the purpose becomes clear Reality is just an illusion I close my eyes and see for miles Swan dive from the edge I close my eyes and see for miles See for miles Ascend All is clear In my mind Although my eyes are closed I see for miles In the now So defined Feel the wave wash over me Like the waves crash on the shore beat on the land forever more I will swan dive from the edge into the void below On the precipice I stand, over seas of shifting sand I will swan dive from the edge into the void below Like the seas relentless tide Let this moment be your guide I will swan dive from the edge into the void below Rid your senses of your fear, then the purpose becomes clear Reality is just an illusion I close my eyes and see for miles Swan dive from the edge I close my eyes and see for miles See for miles

about

"The Oculist" is a boundary-pushing prog metal project that defies conventions. With their unique fusion of musical styles and genres, "The Oculist" is set to make an impression on the metal scene. Earlier this year, three singles were released from the project: "Swan Dive," "Lavender," and "Twelve Step Sentence." Following the release, "Swan Dive" was awarded "Track of the Week" by Progressive Rock and Metal's leading publication, Prog Magazine. Now, "The Oculist" is ready to announce their debut album, "Cautionary Tales."

"The Oculist" was formed by two longtime musical collaborators, Adam Dunn and Çağrı Tozluoğlu (aka Philamelian). The duo embarked on their journey for this release with instrumental recordings, drawing influences from the vast waters of metal, fusion, and prog. These demos evolved with the addition of further themes and developed arrangements.

The idea of adding vocals arose during one of the writing sessions when discussing common interests such as politics, true crime, and altered states of consciousness. Adam came up with the first lyrics for the project in the next session, and everything written up to that day took on a new form, transcending "The Oculist" to the next level.

"The Oculist's" work has been an eclectic musical playground with elements of heavy guitars, electronics, orchestra, ambient textures, and drones. The band's sound positions itself in the modern metal heartlands. Aside from his talented songwriting skills and axemanship, Adam skillfully transitions between clean vocals and fierce growls and serves as the voice of "The Oculist." The project's other writer, Çağrı, creates "The Oculist's" sonic aesthetic with his signature style as a keyboardist and sound aficionado. Çağrı is known in the prog scene for his tenure with "The Hayley Griffiths Band" and as the former keyboard player for "Karnataka."

The project's rhythmical backbone features two extraordinary musicians: Simon Fitzpatrick (Carl Palmer Band, Jennifer Batten, Steve Hackett, Kee Marcello, Neal Morse, Joe Lynn Turner) on bass and James Wise (Vomitile, Toloache, Die Ego) on drums. Additionally, the song "Lavender" features Kerry O'Dowd on additional vocals, and Evert Van Eynde on marimba.

"Cautionary Tales" was produced and mixed at TimbreWorks studios in London by Çağrı Tozluoğlu, with additional mix engineering provided by Mesut Güneş of "The Sun Sound." The album was mastered by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Haken, Babymetal) at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden.

credits

released December 8, 2023

The Oculist is Adam Dunn & Çağrı Tozluoğlu

Music: Adam Dunn & Çağrı Tozluoğlu
Lyrics: Adam Dunn

Vocals and guitars: Adam Dunn
Keyboards and programming: Çağrı Tozluoğlu
Bass: Simon Fitzpatrick
Drums: James Wise
Marimba: Evert Van Eynde (Lavender)
Vocals: Kerry O’Dowd (Lavender)

Produced and Mixed by Çağrı Tozluoğlu at TimbreWorks London with additional mix engineering provided by Mesut Güneş of the Sun Sound.
Mastering by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios Sweden.

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The Oculist London, UK

The Oculist has been formed by two long time musical collaborators and friends Adam Dunn and Çağrı Tozluoğlu (aka Philamelian).

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