Gloomy

Okay, first of all, how cool is this album packaging? A triple gatefold with holes cut out in a twisting pattern. With all the inserts taken out, you can see all the way through it! I do love when bands and labels get creative with their packaging.

The Ocean, or The Ocean Collective, is a German metal group formed in 2001. The reason for the differing names is the group's music often features a rotating cast of guest musicians, hence the "collective". In addition to your typical metal guitars, bass, and drums, this album also features instruments like cello, piano, and trombone.

The music fluctuates between intense, harsh metal sounds and more laid back sections which feature jazzier chords and splashes of symphonic color. Progressive music has always interested me, I find it very commendable when groups try to break away from the mold of standard, predictable songwriting forms and cliches. As a metal convert later in life, there's still enough in this music for my ear to latch onto. There are some welcome breaks from the thrashing onslaught.

Each track on this album is inspired by different geological epochs, which I must admit is a very creative place to pull inspiration for a metal album. Quite the ambitious project. With songs titled things like "Ordovicium - The Glaciation of Gondwana", you've gotta swing for the fences. Thankfully, the Collective was able to pull off, to my ear, a very satisfying and engaging album.

The included lyric sheet is a welcome addition, and on a more detailed listen while following along, I'm getting a lot more out of it than on a casual listen with it on in the background. The lyrics range between poetic and startlingly literal, often in the same verse. Take a look at this lyric from "Siluran - Age of Sea Scorpions":

You and me, we took great pains to not get down too deep. Down into the raging stream of our subconsciousness. Shadows are passing by. Sometimes they're close to catching up. Sea scorpions prowl these waters. They are the apex predators. This time we won't surrender facing the unknown.

I'd actually like to use this song to share some more thoughts, so take a listen.

I think this song sums up what the band is all about quite nicely. You've got your good proggy mixed meter in there, more pared-down parts with cello and piano, and ramping up in intensity until you get to the fierce, guttural vocals of the metal sections. All in all, a good showcase of what metal music can achieve, from both a creative and performing standpoint.