ALBUM REVIEW: Phanerozoic I: Paleozoic – The Ocean
Metal has long held its head high for hosting some of the most progressively minded acts on the planet. Indeed, evolving from the likes of LED ZEPPELIN, PINK FLOYD and BLACK SABBATH, the current pioneers of progression in the modern arena are still painting some of the most colourful landscapes one can imagine, all be it with far darker, far heavier shades and tones than in the past. Imagery can be a powerful tool when building songs with the intention of pushing the musical envelope, and there are bands like THE OCEAN who have built their diverse and monolithic sounds on the imagery produced by the first initial seeds that were planted when the project began.
In the case of THE OCEAN, it was images of a violent natural world during a time out of our control that were first conjured to mind. The prehistoric times that have provided the scaffolding around which the musical collective have built their career off of were first thought of by mastermind Robin Staps as he crafted the initial sounds of THE OCEAN, and fast forward to the looming release of newest record Phanerozoic I: Paleozoic, that worship of natural chaos continues, this time channelled into some of the groups tightest and most concise material to date, yet that still manages to sprawl like the epic period it is named after.
The themes of cyclic change are the prevalent ideas in Phanerozoic I, as the opening sounds of Cambrian Explosion erupt and blossom into the following Cambrian II: Eternal Recurrance, as musical ideas are recycled and built upon with care and precision. The final moments of the song reflect the opening bars of the whole album, setting up the themes of the record whilst also delivering one of their most confidently catchy vocal phrases the band have written, as vocalist Loic Rossetti’s recognisable croon continues to be one of THE OCEAN’s stand out features. The momentum is carried seamlessly into the following Ordovicium, a song that rides off a massive stuttering riff that opens up into yet another standout moment from Loic on Phanerozoic, just continuing to prove him as a real torch holder for aspiring metal vocalists.
The theme of cyclic upheaval is not just the only prevailing theme on the record, as the idea of violent and apocalyptic end is also explored, given the namesake time period hosting one of the many great extinctions in our natural history. This looming threat is built and managed carefully, with the rapturous riffs being made as heavy as possible for maximum impact through careful building and layering. With the excellent balancing act THE OCEAN have been able to hone over their career, these moments feel all the heavier, such as when Silurian Age of Scorpions decides to let it’s riff truly wash over the listener instead of relying on it’s TOOL like bass lines to keep interest.
Given the themes of Phanerozoic, there is a lingering feeling of hesitance sometimes on the record. The dynamics provide ample moments for some truly apocalyptic moments, especially given how brief the album is in comparison to the back catalogue. Whilst the brevity works for the pace and consistency of the record, there could be some better use of time. Whilst the Carboniferous Rainforest Collapse serves as a passable transition from the expansive eleven minute epic Devonian Nascent to the hefty and heavy Permian closer, it does little to add anything else to the record as whole given its three minute run time.
Despite being the one of the strongest cuts on the album, Permian ultimately feels like a cliffhanger ending for the second part of this album, expected to arrive in 2020. Phanerozoic I: Paleozoic comes across as equal parts a band sharpening their skill set to a razor edge whilst also feeling like a band still doing what they have always done. THE OCEAN don’t write bad music, but with what the band were chasing on Phanerozoic, pushing the volume up to 11 might just have been the spark needed to further cement these progressive legends to myth rather than just the history books. All eyes are set to Phanerozoic II, were the abrupt ending should hopefully open up into a worthy climax for this record. Regardless of the nitpickery one can find within this album, THE OCEAN have produced their most accessible album without sacrificing any of their past identity. Phanerozoic I will satisfy old fans and draw new listeners to a band who have quietly produced some of the best progressive metal since the turn of the millennia.
Rating: 8/10
Phanerozoic I: Paleozoic is set for release on November 2nd via Metal Blade Records.
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