Precambrian (album)

Precambrian
Studio album by The Ocean
Released 5 November 2007
Recorded Oceanland, Berlin, between April and July 2007
Genre Post-metal, sludge metal, progressive metal
Length 83:43
Label Metal Blade
Producer Jonas Olsson, Robin Staps
The Ocean chronology

Aeolian
(2005)		 Precambrian
(2007)		 Heliocentric
(2010)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
About.com [1]
Allmusic [2]
Decibel (9/10)[3]
Pitchfork Media (8.3/10)[4]
Revolver [5]

Precambrian is the third studio album by the German metal band The Ocean, released on November 5, 2007 through Metal Blade Records. It features several guest musicians, including Caleb Scofield (Cave In, Zozobra, Old Man Gloom), Nate Newton (Converge, Doomriders), Dwid Hellion (Integrity), Tomas Hallbom (Breach), Erik Kalsbeek (Textures) and musicians from the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

Development

The main concept of the album is based around the Precambrian, an early period in the formation of Earth. Hadean/Archaean (disc one) is heavy and raw just like their previous album Aeolian while Proterozoic (disc two) is more post-metal-influenced with the inclusion of symphonic and electronic elements like their first album Fluxion.

The production of the album lasted more than six months after their tour in Europe in late 2006. All the drum tracks done by Torge Liessmann and most of the guitar tracks were recorded in Finland. Some of the guitar tracks and all of the vocals, bass guitar, percussion, samples, and various instruments played by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra were recorded in The Ocean's own Oceanland Studio in Berlin, Germany. Additional vocals were recorded in Sweden, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Los Angeles, California and Seattle, Washington in the United States. It was mixed by Andrew Schneider in New York City. The album's mastering was originally done by Nick Zampiello, but dissatisfied Robin Staps, and it was therefore remastered in Finland. The artwork was done by Martin Kvamme, who has done artwork for various Mike Patton projects like Fantômas and Tomahawk. The release in the United States and Europe differed; the U.S. version is in a two-disc crystal case while the European version is in a complex digipak case with additional artwork.

Jonas Renkse from Katatonia and Bloodbath were planned to be on the album, but due to Katatonia's touring schedule during the production, The Ocean was not able to approach him on time. The Ocean wanted to have Dave Verellen of Botch to participate, but he never responded back during production.[6]

Track listing

All music written by Robin Staps. Lyrics written by Robin Staps except where noted. All non-instrumental songs include sub-titles that correspond to the lyrics provided, not to the main concept.

Disc one

Hadean/Archaean

I. Hadean
  1. "Hadean (The Long March of the Yes-Men)" (Ray J. Shaw, Robin Staps) – 3:48

Total: 3:48

II. Archaean
  1. "Eoarchaean (The Great Void)" (Micheal Pilat, Staps) – 4:45
  2. "Palaeoarchaean (Man and the Sea)" (Charles Baudelaire, Staps) – 2:46
  3. "Mesoarchaean (Legions of Winged Octopi)" (Comte de Lautréamont, Staps) – 5:20
  4. "Neoarchaean (To Burn the Duck of Doubt)" (Lautréamont, Staps) – 5:24

Total: 18:16

Disc two

Proterozoic

III. Paleoproterozoic
  1. "Siderian" [Instrumental] (Staps, Tomas Svensson) – 1:56
  2. "Rhyacian (Untimely Meditations)" (Friedrich Nietzsche, Lautréamont, Staps) – 10:57
  3. "Orosirian (For the Great Blue Cold Now Reigns)" – 6:29
  4. "Statherian" [Instrumental] (Kevin Spacey, Staps) – 5:57

Total: 25:20

IV. Mesoproterozoic
  1. "Calymmian (Lake Disappointment)" – 8:18
  2. "Ectasian (De Profundis)" (Georg Trakl, Staps) – 8:58
  3. "Stenian (Mount Sorrow)" – 8:19

Total: 25:36

V. Neoproterozoic
  1. "Tonian (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind)" – 7:18
  2. "Cryogenian" [Instrumental] – 3:32

Total: 10:48

Personnel

Hadean/Archaean

Proterozoic

References

  1. ↑ Bowar, Chad. "Precambrian review". About.com. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
  2. ↑ Prato, Greg. "Precambrian review". Allmusic. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
  3. ↑ Parks, Andrew (February 2008). "Not as Oceanic as you might think". Decibel (40): . ISSN 1557-2137.
  4. ↑ Lee, Cosmo (11 March 2008). "Precambrian review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
  5. ↑ Kennedy, Patrick (January 2008). "Precambrian review". Revolver (64): p. 106. ISSN 1527-408X.
  6. ↑ "An interview with The Ocean for Lords of Metal monthly metal e-zine, published in issue 77: January 2008". Lords of Metal. Retrieved 2008-06-27.

External links