Holocene (Instrumental)

Holocene marks the conclusion of the bands paleontology series that began with 2018s Phanerozoic I: Paleozoic and continued with 2020s Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic / Cenozoic. Always planned as a trilogy, its thematic approach charts earths epochs in geological time. The Holocene is, thus far, the most recent (and shortest) epoch, marking humanitys appearance. Normally, composing tracks began with guitarist Robin Staps creating a riff, drum beat, or vocal line. Here, core musical ideas were initially generated by keyboardist/synthesist Peter Voigtmann during the COVID-19 quarantine. He sent raw demos to Staps, who was impressed that they resonated with the Oceans musical persona, and added guitars before developing them with the band in 2022. The Ocean made a change behind the mixing desk by enlisting veteran engineer Karl Daniel Liden, who also mastered the album. Set opener "Preboreal" is a direct segue from "Holocene," the final track on Phanerozoic II. Haunting synth patterns ripple, pulse, and breathe before the band enters. Singer Loic Rossettis layered, reverbed vocals (with assistance from Staps and drummer Paul Seidel) are clean and look directly back at human development, noting that despite our ability to reason critically, we remain existentially lost. Overdubbed synth brass buoys Rossetti before guitars and drums roar with detuned urgency. "Boreal" melds gothic and industrial electronics before low-tuned basslines, distorted guitars, and thudding kick drums frame Rossettis vocal. Single "Sea of Reeds" commences with synthed horns and piano recalling Massive Attack -- theyre devotees of Mezzanine -- as the band sounds nearly psychedelic, with vibraphones, hand percussion, synthed chimes, and echoing basslines ratcheting up the tension. Rossettis vocal retells the Old Testament story of Jehovahs parting of the Red Sea, the escape of the Israelites, and the destruction of the Pharoahs army. "Atlantic" begins inside a plodding industrial frame. Piano, drums, synths, and Rossetti emerge, carrying a minimal melody. Minutes later, the Ocean reveal themselves still very much a metal band. Grinding guitars from Staps and David Ramis Ahfeldt war with Mattias Hagerstrands filthy bass, massive kick drums, and layers of keys buoying a lyric that indicts humanitys failures. The opening portion of "Suboreal" sounds like a sinister version of OMD before it transitions into a raucous post-metal monolith. The electro-acoustic neo-Gothic rocker "Unconformities" first half offers lead vocals from Karin Park of Norwegian prog-metal outfit Arabrot, and the second half explodes into thrash with Rossetti screaming. "Parabosis" segues out of it into raw, hooky prog rock. It picks up in intensity, but never loses the hooky frame. Closer "Subatlantic" unfurls slowly from a moody psychedelic intro akin to "The Quiet Observer," then suddenly shifts gears to sharp, angular metal. It closes with a darkly synthed brass chart, loops, and ambient sounds. Holocene delivers the most varied, restless, and experimental music the Ocean has yet recorded -- especially as they lean into electronic music. ~ Thom Jurek