Music: Symphonic Slude/Ambient
Country: Germany
Web site: www.theoceancollective.com
Cool songs: Hadean, Palaeoarchaean, Ectasian
THE OCEAN's second release through Metal Blade is the grandest of their eight-year career. “Precambrian” is a two-disc offering. Each disc comes with its own booklet of lyrics and exquisite, maritime artwork. “Hadean/Archaean,” the first disc is made of clear materials with splashes of black.
The second disc, “Proterozoic” features the same color scheme, although in reverse order with transparent splashes and a black background. Because each song title follows the fourteen eras of the Precambrian cycle, disc one only contains five tracks, the five eras in the Hadean/Archaen eon, and disc two imitates the nine eras of the second half of the Precambrian cycle.
The Precambrian cycle refers to the span of time starting at the beginning of geologic time, when rocks first formed, to the first forms of life on this planet. THE OCEAN named each song after the earths geological cycles, but this is no episode of Beakmans World. THE OCEAN uses the early stages of the Earth in a metaphorical sense, possibly relaying the evolution of humankind through modern dilemmas or comparing humanistic tendencies to certain stages of the Earths formation. Each song title on the first disc exhibits the geological cycle and a subtitle, which tells the theme of the song.
A comparison of both albums reveals a musical dichotomy. Each track on Hadean/Archaen is brief and furious. Proterozoic contains long tracks that are both heavy and melodic. Hadean (The March of the Yes-Men) begins this epic story in true Meshuggah fashion, complexly timed sludge. A digital, futuristic sounding synth weaves through the background.
Palaeoarchaean (The Man and Sea) is one of the fastest tracks, moving with a hardcore swagger. Neoarchaen (To Burn the Duck of Doubt) features stop-and-start rhythms and intricate guitar harmonies, instilling a musical kinship with MASTODON. THE OCEAN mainly sticks to the post hardcore, gruff vocal style, although many voices join the foray to add personality and character.
Although Hadean/Archaen is full of catchy riffs of a massive disposition, The Proterozoic portion is much more diverse. This part of the album represents opposing forces. Its lyrics are intelligent, but moves brutishly. Their music changes from supple melodies to destructive dirges with enough impact to cause global cataclysm. The bass sound these marine enthusiasts employ on Orsorian may not literally have the force to cause an earthquake, but crank the volume, and it will appear as if an earthquake struck. Note to trendy kids who think metal is one giant breakdown: take notes during the massive breakdowns during Ectasian.
Breakdowns are not necessarily a bad thing, especially when done with the plate-shifting rumble Johnathan Heine produces from his bass. Their music imitates the oceans duality, cycling through moments of crashing anger and destruction to placid, melody-driven blissfulness. In NEUROSIS “Souls at Zero” fashion, THE OCEAN utilizes many symphonic instruments such as violin, viola, saxophone, tambourine and other non-traditional metal instruments to expand the atmosphere of this disc.
Precambrian is eons ahead of The Oceans last album, Aeon. They have grown in every aspect. The riffs have more groove, the vocals and music is more diverse, the song arrangements make each part more memorable, the packaging, writing, and themes are all deeper and of greater creativity. In reference to harm done in downloading, The Ocean wrote, It is an album for people who still believe in the ideas that an album can be more, and should be more, than the sums of its tracks. “Precambrian” is without a doubt greater than the sums of its tracks.
note: 9/10
Tracklist
1. Hadean
2. Eoarchaean
3. Paleoarchaean
4. Mesoarchaean
5. Neoarchaean
Disc 2
1. Siderian
2. Rhyacian
3. Orosirian
4. Statherian
5. Calymmian
6. Ectasian
7. Stenian
8. Tonian
9. Cryogenian
Total playing time 01:23:52
Line-up
Jonathan Heine – Bass
Andreas Hillebrand – Guitar
Gerd Kornmann – Vocals, Percussion, Flex
Torge Liessmann – Drums
Nico Webers – Sequencer, Vocals
Nils Lindenhayn – Visuals
Robin Staps – Guitar, Percussion
Music: Symphonic Slude/Ambient
Country: Germany
Web site: www.theoceancollective.com
Cool songs: Hadean, Palaeoarchaean, Ectasian
THE OCEAN's second release through Metal Blade is the grandest of their eight-year career. “Precambrian” is a two-disc offering. Each disc comes with its own booklet of lyrics and exquisite, maritime artwork. “Hadean/Archaean,” the first disc is made of clear materials with splashes of black.
The second disc, “Proterozoic” features the same color scheme, although in reverse order with transparent splashes and a black background. Because each song title follows the fourteen eras of the Precambrian cycle, disc one only contains five tracks, the five eras in the Hadean/Archaen eon, and disc two imitates the nine eras of the second half of the Precambrian cycle.
The Precambrian cycle refers to the span of time starting at the beginning of geologic time, when rocks first formed, to the first forms of life on this planet. THE OCEAN named each song after the earths geological cycles, but this is no episode of Beakmans World. THE OCEAN uses the early stages of the Earth in a metaphorical sense, possibly relaying the evolution of humankind through modern dilemmas or comparing humanistic tendencies to certain stages of the Earths formation. Each song title on the first disc exhibits the geological cycle and a subtitle, which tells the theme of the song.
A comparison of both albums reveals a musical dichotomy. Each track on Hadean/Archaen is brief and furious. Proterozoic contains long tracks that are both heavy and melodic. Hadean (The March of the Yes-Men) begins this epic story in true Meshuggah fashion, complexly timed sludge. A digital, futuristic sounding synth weaves through the background.
Palaeoarchaean (The Man and Sea) is one of the fastest tracks, moving with a hardcore swagger. Neoarchaen (To Burn the Duck of Doubt) features stop-and-start rhythms and intricate guitar harmonies, instilling a musical kinship with MASTODON. THE OCEAN mainly sticks to the post hardcore, gruff vocal style, although many voices join the foray to add personality and character.
Although Hadean/Archaen is full of catchy riffs of a massive disposition, The Proterozoic portion is much more diverse. This part of the album represents opposing forces. Its lyrics are intelligent, but moves brutishly. Their music changes from supple melodies to destructive dirges with enough impact to cause global cataclysm. The bass sound these marine enthusiasts employ on Orsorian may not literally have the force to cause an earthquake, but crank the volume, and it will appear as if an earthquake struck. Note to trendy kids who think metal is one giant breakdown: take notes during the massive breakdowns during Ectasian.
Breakdowns are not necessarily a bad thing, especially when done with the plate-shifting rumble Johnathan Heine produces from his bass. Their music imitates the oceans duality, cycling through moments of crashing anger and destruction to placid, melody-driven blissfulness. In NEUROSIS “Souls at Zero” fashion, THE OCEAN utilizes many symphonic instruments such as violin, viola, saxophone, tambourine and other non-traditional metal instruments to expand the atmosphere of this disc.
Precambrian is eons ahead of The Oceans last album, Aeon. They have grown in every aspect. The riffs have more groove, the vocals and music is more diverse, the song arrangements make each part more memorable, the packaging, writing, and themes are all deeper and of greater creativity. In reference to harm done in downloading, The Ocean wrote, It is an album for people who still believe in the ideas that an album can be more, and should be more, than the sums of its tracks. “Precambrian” is without a doubt greater than the sums of its tracks.
note: 9/10
Tracklist
1. Hadean
2. Eoarchaean
3. Paleoarchaean
4. Mesoarchaean
5. Neoarchaean
Disc 2
1. Siderian
2. Rhyacian
3. Orosirian
4. Statherian
5. Calymmian
6. Ectasian
7. Stenian
8. Tonian
9. Cryogenian
Total playing time 01:23:52
Line-up
Jonathan Heine – Bass
Andreas Hillebrand – Guitar
Gerd Kornmann – Vocals, Percussion, Flex
Torge Liessmann – Drums
Nico Webers – Sequencer, Vocals
Nils Lindenhayn – Visuals
Robin Staps – Guitar, Percussion
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