The Ocean are Planning a Double-Album Sequel to Precambriam, First Disc Coming in November

Prediction: The Ocean’s next album is going to be huge for the band. It’s been five years since Pelagial came out, that album was widely lauded, and in the time since then the band’s reputation as one of metal’s most exciting, intricate, thoughtful, pensive and BEST overall bands has only grown. The Ocean have also had five whole years to let riffs and ideas percolate and develop, which almost always produces better results than cranking out a new record every two years. So I’m calling it now: when new music from The Ocean drops, it’s gonna be a big deal! And these guys deserve it as much as anyone.

Speaking of new music from The Ocean, we finally have an update on that via drummer Paul Seidel in an interview with Arctic Drones. The gist of it is this: The Ocean are currently recording a double album that will pick up thematically where Precambrian (2007, also a double-disc affair) left off. Unlike Precambrian — but similar to the approach the band took with Heliocentric and Anthropocentric, thematically linked and both released in 2010 — the two parts/discs of the double album will be released separately and at different times. And the first of those albums is likely to drop in November.

Here’s the money quote from Seidel, who is recording with the band for the first time after joining in late 2013:

“Yeah we’ve already started recording the new album which will follow the “story” traced by Precambrian. Thematically it picks up where Precambrian left off. Basically, Precambrian is the drawing of the Earth as it is, while the new album will take on the birth of living organisms, how they prospered, and their evolution until pretty much the arrival of human beings. It’s a big task, which is why it’s going to develop into two records, with the first part probably due in November. As for recording a record, it’s all a matter of characters in the band. It’s about people’s characters and what ideas different people bring to the table and with The Ocean it’s a little different because it’s always been Robin who takes care of a lot. He always has a certain vision in mind. I’m never sure if it’s a full-grown idea or a mega-concept floating around, but its’ a long process from formulating an initial idea and drawing it into something that everyone kind of understands in the band. Because I can record a drum demo at home and have all the melodies ready in my head but as long as that is not turned into something other people will not understand that. So the process with this record was pretty much Robin having an idea and writing a record that fits that idea. Now we’re in the middle of shaping the diamond, like this gem that you find and now everyone is working hard on shaping it into something beautiful.”

Convinced it’s gonna be great yet? I sure am… not that I ever had any doubt. The Ocean have been one of the most consistent and best bands in metal spanning the past decade, and it’s high time they’re recognized for it.

I highly recommend reading the full interview with Seidel at Arctic Drones. He talks about the recording process for the new album, how he came to hook up with The Ocean, his work in Nightmarer and more.

To get you in the mood, here’s Precambrian:

Thanks: Jeremy R.