Narnia have released “Oceanwide,” the first single from their upcoming tenth studio album ‘X’, arriving May 29 via Sound Pollution, and it arrives exactly as advertised: melodic, uplifting, and built around the kind of chorus that justifies the word “arena-ready.” The Swedish melodic metal veterans have been road-testing the track since last summer’s Brazil tour with Stryper, and the live seasoning shows. Produced and mixed by CJ Grimmark and mastered by Thomas “Plec” Johansson at Studio Bohus, the single is available now on all major platforms.
‘X’ marks Narnia’s 30th anniversary and their most ambitious record in years. The album moves between soaring melodic hooks and more progressive, intricate arrangements without losing the band’s identity, with tracks like “Every Breath” and “Heaven’s Calling” sitting alongside the high-tempo “Remedy (SOS)” and the more texturally complex “God Under Fire” and “Jerusalem.” Multiple vocalists share the spotlight throughout, with Grimmark and bassist Jonatan “Jono” Samuelsson stepping forward on select tracks alongside Christian Liljegren’s anchoring presence. The record also reconnects with the band’s legacy through “The Man from Nazareth Pt. II,” a continuation of a fan-favorite from 2006’s ‘Enter the Gate’. “‘Oceanwide’ has the melodies, the energy, and the sense of scale that felt right as the first single to introduce ‘X,'” says Liljegren. Grimmark puts it plainly: “It’s heavier, broader, and more dynamic, but still unmistakably NARNIA.”