365 Days of Metal: Revolving Around the Sun

Day 52

The Ocean - Heliocentric

Artist Origin: Berlin, Germany
Genre: Post Metal / Progressive
Label: Metal Blade
Running Time: 51 minutes
Release Date: April 9, 2010

Best Part: The Origin of Species

Favorite Tracks: The Origin of Species & The Origin of God, Metaphysics of The Hangman, Ptolemy Was Wrong, Firmament

Grade: 5

Side Note: Should be listened to in full along with Anthropocentric.

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Heliocentric in 20 words or less:

Part one of a post metal masterpiece double album, from the makers of Precambrian, which raised expectations three years prior.

The Band:

The Ocean is a six piece post metal band from Germany, who play an aggressive, progressive and atmospheric metal experience - and I don't use the term experience lightly. The Ocean makes frequent use of electronic elements and strings (not guitar string you fools!) to fill in the voids in their music. The band, also coining itself The Ocean Collective, features collaborations from numerous artists throughout their discography, including fellow metal musicians and vocalists, classically trained musicians, as well as orchestras, such as the Berlin Philharmonic which played a significant role during the recording of their third album Precambrian.

The Ocean's other releases include: Fluxion (2004), Aeolian (2006), Precambrian (2007), and Anthropocentric (2010)

Jay's Take on Heliocentric:

Heliocentric is the first part of The Ocean's magnum opus, a double album meant to be a fundamental and philosophical critique of Christianity, with many central themes prevalent throughout each record. Anthropocentric, the second part of the double album was released nine months following Heliocentric, squeezing both parts of the masterpiece into the same year. The music is both powerfully moving and unrestrained, and the way the themes are conveyed from one track to the next makes for a very remarkable listening experience. It's an album that holds true to the aggressiveness inherent to post metal, but carries with it an eloquence and melody in its atmospheric elements, and use of classical instruments. A perfect example being the violin interlude during the track The Origin of Species - which is also the ringtone on my phone, and has been for over a year. I chose both Heliocentric and Anthropocentric as my favorite record(s) of the year last year, and for good reason. The Ocean stole the spotlight from many contenders, with a great comeback performance following their triumph with the album Precambrian.

Sample of the Day:



- J