The Ocean

Precambrian

[3.5/5]

Ambitious and epic, dense and orchestral, the latest album from Germany’s premier thinking man’s metal collective the Ocean features a dizzying array of musical and vocal styles, from Mastodonian prog jags and Fear Factory jackhammer blasts to ethereal electronics and florid classical instrumentation-as well as a dozen vocalists, including Caleb Scofield (Cave In), Nate Newton (Converge/Doomriders) and Dwid Hellion (Integrity). Spread across two discs-the five-track, 22-minute Hadean/Archaean and the nine-track, 61-minute Proterozoic-Precambrian wants to be the extreme-metal equivalent of Pink Floyd’s The Wall. As a conceptual work of art (note the geological-era theme), it’s a five-star accomplishment; as a piece of music, however (or even a collection of pieces), its tragic flaw is a distinct lack of memorable songs. Then again, just because you can’t hum the fuckers doesn’t mean they want for power or sheer monumental might. (METAL BLADE) J. Bennett