Gratitude

Ockra arose in early 2018 in Gothenburg, from what was left of the stoner doom band, Sulphur Dreams.

With a strong desire to stretch musical barriers away from what is known as classic stoner or doom metal, the trio, around Jonas Nystrom, Erik Bjornlinger and Alex Spielhaupter, set out to develop their songwriting skills and find their own style under the new name, Ockra. The band have a wide range of influences, from metal to Americana and jazzy prog rock.

The trio went out to the little village of Hesedorf near Hamburg (Germany) to record their debut album, ‘Gratitude’, together with Peter Voigtmann (The Ocean) at his Die Muhle Studio. The calm environment and the nature around made it possible to get into a state of creative isolation, which had an impact on the music, which now has more elements of singer-songwriter and folk music.

The lyrics have been written in the shade of the pandemic and severe illnesses amongst close friends and family members during this period. Writing these very personal lyrics has been some kind of therapy and despite the severeness of the topics they are meant to provide a glimpse of hope.

For fans of Pallbearer, Black Mountain, Elder, My Morning Jacket, Royal Thunder, Opeth, Kadavar, Okkervil River, Anathema, Dead Meadow, All Them Witches, YOB, Graveyard, Katatonia.