Review Summary: Whereas "Precambrian" was like a fierce hurricane, "Heliocentric" is the harmless breeze that follows...
German heavy metallers, The Ocean Collective, or simply The Ocean, are one of the more celebrated bands in their respective genre. Their consistency and technical proficiency alone have gained them an incredibly solid fan base, yet their preceding releases were eclipsed by one crowning achievement; “Precambrian.” “Precambrian” was the album many progressive metal bands only dream of making. The album was a stunning tour de force, both musically and conceptually. Detailing the very beginnings of the planet, “Precambrian” was an ambitious double-disk release. Needless to say, whatever The Ocean were to release post-”Precambrian” was to be scrutinized to an utmost degree.
And is it truly fair to judge a band so harshly? To stick them in a box of expectations? Well, when the album before it was an instant classic, it’s hard to not do so. And that’s where judging The Ocean’s newest effort is such a difficult task. In certain parts, “Heliocentric” seems fresh, while in others, it seems like a complete regression of style and musical ability. That being said, those who approach the album must do so with a very open mind, because “Heliocentric” is most certainly not “Precambrian.”
Interestingly, like the album before it, “Heliocentric” is also a double-disk album. Well, sort of. It is a larger, more ambitious project split into two separate releases. “Heliocentric” is the first part, while “Anthropocentric” is the proceeding half. The album is a sharp criticism of Christianity, told from different philosophical points of view. It’s not your standard anti-religion affair, but instead, a very intelligent and well thought out concept. It spans many ideas that have been brought about throughout time, starting with Copernicus and Galilei who adopted the idea that the earth was not the center of the universe. Heavy hitters like Nietzsche and Darwin make appearances as well.
Conceptually, “Heliocentric” is simply brilliant. While it may not be as nearly original as “Precambrian,” the album more than makes up for it with wonderfully intelligent ideas and lyrics. Yet the issues found on the album reside solely in the songs themselves, because “Heliocentric” is fairly inconsistent. That being said, some songs are absolutely stunning. “The Origin of Species” and “The Origin of God” are two such songs. Collectively, the pieces act as the album’s finale, and it is a great way to close things out. They are some of the most crushing and atmospheric selections on the disk, and there is a whole lot of variation found throughout. Even the opener, “The Firmament,” is a great song. Yet a strong start and finish doesn’t make a great album, because the mid-section of “Heliocentric” can at times be a mess. There are just too many forgettable songs residing there. Well to be quite honest, “Ptolemy Was Wrong” is quite possibly the most memorable piece of the whole project, but for all of the wrong reasons. Sappy and melodramatic, the track is at times laughably cheesy. Without a doubt, the worst track on the entire album. However, the mixed bag that is the song selection has many nice moments throughout, and as a whole is fairly enjoyable.
From a technical standpoint, The Ocean are still pretty damn solid., yet their overall sound is completely different. While the definition of “heaviness” is truly in the eye of the beholder, it’s apparent that they’ve lost that “punched-in-the-gut” crushing feeling. They are not nearly as dense or atmospheric as they once were, which leads the album to have a far weaker impact. In many spots, “Heliocentric” is simply far too harmless.
Yet the biggest change in sound largely comes from the change in lineup. The album is the first to feature Loic Rossetti, the bands new vocalist. And I am pleased to report that his presence is largely welcome. His range is great, and stylistically he adds a lot of depth where there wasn’t much previously. His clean singing is impressive, and the dynamic shifts are very nicely handled. However, when he screams and bellows, things get a little iffy. Their previous vocalist was a powerhouse, to say the least., and his bellowing growls were menacing enough to send chills throughout your body. In comparison, Rossetti simply cannot compete. His screaming range is fairly weak, and the tone leaves much to be desired. That being said, the new emphasis on clean singing is much more welcoming because of him.
“Heliocentric” is kind of a mixed bag at times. While it simply cannot surpass, well, anything else in The Ocean’s discography, it is a nice change of pace. It’s more soulful and personal than ever before, and the members are clearly passionate about the project. Creatively and conceptually, “Heliocentric” is marvelous, but the lack of consistency really hurts it in the long run. A good album overall, but simply too blasé.
