Review Summary: Tough and calm like a stone with destruction in between
Over the years we have observed a gradual increase in the quality of the produced sound. In these highly advanced technologically times, various patterns of sound are consciously used in order to finally result, which content the most devoted and interested audience. The Ocean, as a representative of a genre which is difficult to play in a satisfactory and satisfying way, from the very first steps deliberately pays a lot of attention to the final grinding - the so-called mastering. The attention paid to this element has not changed and the effect in Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic | Cenozoic is more than satisfy. In addition, the band faces all the publishing bonds and releases the instruments simultaneously. It is worth mentioning that this treatment appears more and more often in other artists.
The German collective managed to get used in the harshness of their work. What's more, this planned move, despite an unusual procedure, does not require a million replays to get used to it. Speaking of habits, the first part of Phanerozoic I: Palaeozoic from 2018 for me was extremely uncomfortable. The sessions that I spent with the above-mentioned album were mercilessly stretched and didn't provide me promised pleasure. A material that potentially shouldn't disappoint me - fortunately, it did, until a certain moment. After the next few months from the release, the album started grow in me to a full bloom, which resulted very fulfilling. The music presented there mature in me. It caused a conscious evaluation of the first part of the post-metal era series. The part I am currently discussing doesn't suffer from this issue. Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic | Cenozoic continues the first part of the discussion on the human communication throughout the ages. The Ocean presents this aspect with an image of a spoiled modernity or abandoned for the sake of the quickly passing things such as momentary praise and glory.
From the first trailers, I have been enjoying the latest version of their progressiveness. The premiere confirmed my hopes and admiration for the group. The Ocean has once again focused on the course of development over the past millennia. The compositions contained on the album are surrounded by experimental processes, while being very concise, consistent and thematically coherent. There is a place for the (un)typical sludge-post-metal play in Triassic, Jurassic | Cretaceous and Palaeocene. Then we'll be met by an inspiring, slightly alternative emotional cruise in Eocene with Oligocene. The last but not least stop (hopefully) is the firmly rooted core of the band. This is a mix of brutal spiritual juxtaposition of intimate worlds, here I talk about Pleistocene and Holocene. To sum up, people who know their work should take the latest eighth album for péenty. With the first part, it is a complete work of art, polished in every aspect, even the smallest one.
