Bands like Cult Of Luna or Pelican are a sub-genre of metal bands that sit outside what most of us deem as rationality and test the boundaries of music with compelling regularity. Probably one of the most challenging musical experiences and ultimately rewarding bands like this are The Ocean’s guys who are a colossus of genius song writing and boundless creativity. Their double album release this year began with “Heliocentric” which is a serene and beautiful encounter that takes you on a musical journey that is best described by you just going out and buying it. No details are left to chance as the album will get bountiful packaging making what the buyer gets totally satisfying. I invested in the exquisite vinyl box set (pricey but worth it) earlier this year with the promise of an equally lavish vinyl version of their newest and second part offering “Anthropocentric” which I promptly ordered before I miss out.
With both albums focussing heavily on how human beings seem to see themselves as the be all and end all of everything that exists in the universe (which the scientists among us know is just an absolute fluke of chance that we exist at all if you check up on your cosmology). Anyway I digress, it is very clear that this album is heavier than “Heliocentric” which I suspect was a deliberate act on the bands part seeing as the first album of the year was littered with acoustic and classical breaks creating that calm serenity I mentioned earlier. The nine minute title track starts off the album and immediately a massive sound dominates the song but with subtle guitar inflections that permeate the song at various junctures to keep you on your toes. There are some great vocal deliveries on display from harsh roars to excellent clean sections that would give many a vocalist a run for their larynx.
The Ocean’s music is as complex as it comes but it is safe to say that the hub of the bands musicians dominate the song writing with only handful of guest musicians appearing on the album. According to the band the trilogy of songs titled with “The Grand Inquisitor” are at the core of the albums focus lyrically which I will not go into here. The first of this trilogy appears after the title track with the subtitle “Karamazov Baseness” which has a sludgy feel and industrial like vocal line which morphs into a clean vocal like echo. There is a sinister like feel to the melody of the song as though something is creeping upon you whispering and disconcerting. “She Was The Universe” is much heavier song with a crunch riff backed onto a bounce like feel, as a low guitar lead drifts in lazily but enough to catch your attention. The first of the soothing acoustic passages appears with “For He That Wavereth…” just before the second part of “The Grand Inquisitor” this time called “Roots & Locusts” and is much denser and quicker though no less intricate on the arrangements. There are some strong hints of very early Opeth on this song due to the guitar riff and melody. Again the vocals vary between the hoarse snarl like roar and the excellent clean style that makes the band unique. The third and final part of the “The Grand Inquisitor” is a short disturbing piece with electronics and a basic drum beat.
The final section of the album starts with “Sewers Of The Soul” and a Sabbath like riff creating a stoner appeal to the song complete with a more traditional heavy metal styled guitar solo. “Wille Zum Untergang” is in total contrast to most of the album being slower and distinctly melancholic as the bass line saturates the song in a way that Cult Of Luna does so well. As the album comes to its end you notice that the band is successfully testing your musical boundaries by moving between genres and using tons of guitar textures that twist the harmonies as “Heaven TV” demonstrates so ably even though it is much faster overall. Closing the album is “The Almightiness Contradiction” a classical style piece that bears some resemblance to “Heliocentric” material and showcases the guest musicians and is in stark contrast to the rest of album but finishes it so beautifully nothing else really would do. If ever a band deserves recognition then The Ocean is it as their music is truly engrossing and captivating. Added to that the band was robbed of a substantial amount of money in Spain making their lives extremely difficult whilst doing their best on tour, so do your bit and check the band out either by buying their music or checking them out live which is equally mesmerising and thought out. Both their albums will feature in my top 20 of the year with ease.
http://www.theoceancollective.com
http://www.myspace.com/theoceancollective
