The Ocean

The Ocean

The Ocean, also known as The Ocean Collective, is a German metal group from Berlin, active since 2000 and led by guitarist and songwriter Robin Staps. Its sound sits across atmospheric sludge metal, experimental, post-metal, post-rock, progressive metal and sludge metal. The band is signed to Metal Blade Records.

History

The band begins in Berlin in 2000 or 2001 under Staps’ direction. During the first two years, around 40 musicians pass through the project before a stable line-up emerges in 2009. Its first concert takes place in July 2002 at Berlin’s Eimer Club. The first album, Island/Tides, follows soon after and centres on a 30-minute piece that also forms much of the band’s early live set.

After a short tour with Swedish crust punk band Coma, The Ocean signs to Make My Day Records and releases Fogdiver, an EP of five instrumental tracks. The next release, Fluxion, appears in 2004 as a split intended to balance a calmer, more atmospheric side with the heavier material later issued as Aeolian. Fluxion is a collaboration between Make My Day and Throne Records. Aeolian follows after the band signs to Metal Blade Records in 2005 and is notable for its stripped-down approach, limited use of classical instruments and electronics, and multiple guest vocalists including Nate Newton, Sean Ingram and Tomas Hallbom.

Albums and development

Precambrian, a two-disc album, arrives in 2007. In 2008 the group tours Europe and North America with Intronaut, Opeth and At The Gates. In 2009 Mike Pilat leaves, and Loïc Rossetti joins as vocalist later that year. The stable line-up is established around this period, and by 2013 several members are based in Switzerland while Staps remains in Berlin.

In 2010 the band releases two albums: Heliocentric in April and Anthropocentric in November. The pair forms a philosophical critique of Christianity, with Heliocentric focusing on disputes within the Catholic Church over Copernicus and Galileo, and Anthropocentric addressing fundamentalist Protestant creationism. In 2011 the band announces plans for a live DVD filmed in Berlin at the Museum für Musikinstrumente, limited to material from Precambrian.

Pelagial appears in 2013 in the United States. Its CD edition includes both a vocal version and a separate instrumental version. Chris Breuer contributes as a touring bass player and also records parts for the album. Later in 2013 Jonathan Nido and Luc Hess leave, with Paul Seidel replacing Hess and Damian Murdoch joining on guitar.

Line-up and collaborators

Among the musicians associated with The Ocean are Nico Webers, Gerd Kornmann, Robin Staps, Matt Beels, Mike Pilat, Jonathan Nido, Luc Hess, Loïc Rossetti, Dalai Cellai, Vincent Membrez, Damian Murdoch, Paul Seidel, Chris Breuer, Mattias Hägerstrand, David Ramis Ahfeldt and Peter Voigtmann. The project’s history is marked by frequent changes in personnel, but Staps remains the central figure throughout.