Berlin-based psot metal / progressive collective The Ocean are set to release their highly anticipated Holocene album on May 19th. Following their acclaimed Phanerozoic double album, Holocene marks a gear shift for the band as they explore the electronic realm while delving even deeper into heavy, textured soundscapes. The result is a complex and dynamic work that promises to push the boundaries of modern metal. The band’s new single “Subatlantic” is a testament to the band’s ability to create intricate, heavy compositions that gradually build in momentum.
The song begins with trip-hop beats and dark psychedelia, setting a moody and atmospheric tone. As the track progresses, intricate guitar riffs are layered over a propulsive rhythm section, building towards an unexpectedly heavy climax that serves as a fitting finale to the album.
Vocalist Rossetti’s powerful screams add to the intensity, culminating in the memorable phrase “prepare for departure.” This song marks the end of a series of albums inspired by paleontology that The Ocean began 16 years ago with their seminal Precambrian LP in 2007.
Continuing the story from their previous album track “Parabiosis,” The Ocean’s latest music video for “Subatlantic,” directed by Drew Storcks, picks up right where it left off. The video features the doctor-protagonist from the previous video, whose patients were unknowingly sent to their own personal purgatories. This time, the protagonist is seen running through a rainforest and across tropical beaches while being pursued by an anonymous masked figure. Shot on location during the band’s recent North American tour with Katatonia, the video features band members in acting roles and was filmed in Puerto Rico.
On the first half of “Subatlantic,” The Ocean’s Massive Attack influence is quite obvious and makes more sense than listeners could have ever guessed within the context of this band. The Ocean’s Peter Voigtmann mentions: “We’re all huge fans of ‘Mezzanine,’ which is still one of the best-produced albums to date. It has aged incredibly well. And for me it is an immensely heavy album too, a different kind of heaviness but one that somehow connects logically with what we’ve been doing with The Ocean over the course of the past two albums.”
The Ocean has been producing exceptional progressive/post-metal and heavy rock music for over two decades. Throughout their extensive discography, the band has been consistently crusading against close-mindedness, ignorance, and intellectual obstinacy. From their anti-Christian sentiments on previous records to their more recent explorations of psychological and philosophical concepts, including Tarkovsky’s ideas on Pelagial and Nietzsche’s Amor Fati and Eternal Recurrence on Phanerozoic albums, The Ocean has been pushing boundaries with every release.
On their forthcoming album, Holocene, The Ocean continues to tackle pressing social issues, such as society’s obsession with eternal youth and the impact of Instagram culture on our daily lives. The album’s accompanying booklet features quotes from Guy Debord and Raoul Vaneigem, members of The Situationist International, a French protest movement that sought to disrupt capitalist routine and encourage moments of truth and real experience in everyday life.
Holocene will be released on May 19th via Pelagic Records in physical and digital formats, and fans can pre-order the album now. With their ongoing pursuit of critical thinking and their ability to push boundaries with every release, The Ocean’s latest album promises to be a captivating and thought-provoking listen.
