The Ocean - Pelagial (2013)

The Ocean is a German band founded in 2000 by guitarist Robin Staps, who is the mastermind behind the collective. In many respects, the music of The Ocean has become more tonal and accessible with time, but this is not necessarily a gripe. Progressive-inspired works of The Ocean made the band really stand out from the crowd of all this somewhat fashionable yet uninspired post-metal genre. The band has crafted some of metal's most unique and telltale soundscapes to date, making decent albums across the years. But they never really hit it big time as they did last year. The Ocean, as opposed to its peers, offer raw, beautiful, and deep music, crafted with much attention to detail and atmosphere. Staps, the creative force behind The Ocean, has changed its line-up several times to eventually end up with proper personnel to create the album in question, Pelagial.



The Ocean really took their time composing music for Pelagial and they really nailed it. The resulting album was well worth waiting for. Pelagial is a beautiful journey from start to end, and it is also a full-blown concept album done right. Loïc, although short of not not appearing on the album at all due to his strained vocal chords, did really remarkable job writing vocals for the album. His voice skillfully balances between ominous growls and tasteful singing, blending into the album's incredible mood. Epipelagic, the opening chapter of this musical journey, introduces the listener to soothing sounds of water, accompanied by strings and piano. But do not get fooled as with second and third song things quickly take a swift turn towards heavier sound. Speaking of progressive, there are no guitar solos as such, and neither are there crushing blast beat sections, but there is everything you might need to tell the story right. Whenever there is a time shift, or a polyrhythm section, it is always slipped correctly in a song, and never compromises overall experience of the album.

The album takes the listener on a beautiful musical journey down into the depths of the ocean, where musically everything is getting darker and heavier with each song, immersing you into the suffocating, uncharted areas towards the end. The lyrical content of the album revolves around psychoanalysis, and touches deeper and deeper areas with every bit. Yes, here and there across the album there are songs that bear reminiscence of Mastodon (The Wish In Dreams), Textures (Boundless Vasts), Opeth, Meshuggah (Disequillibrated) and much more. There are ever airy instrumental sections that make you think of Devin Townsend but do not get me wrong - this is not merely copying. The Ocean just chose the best bits to weave their music.

What really makes the album stand out from the crowd, are the vocals. While Pelagial was released as a double album, offering you a possibility to listen to the songs without vocals on the attached CD, every time I do it, I can't help the feeling there is something missing. This is all thanks to the impeccable work done by vocalist Loïc Rosetti. If the band ever fires him, this would be a great loss.

It is impossible to stress it enough, but Pelagial is easily one of the best albums released in 2013. It is a must-listen not only for fans of post-metal, but for anybody considering themselves a metal fan. Enjoy the trip.