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The Ocean - New Track Online
German sludge metal act The Ocean are set to unleash a tidal wave in the form of new album Pelagial via Metal Blade Records on April 26th (GSA), April 29th (Europe) and April 30th (USA). In anticipation of the splash of the band's sixth studio album, the new track "Bathyalpelagic II: The Wish In Dreams" is available now and streaming on the video below.
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| Source: | facebook.com |
| Band profile: | The Ocean |
The Ocean - Snippets Of New Album Online, More Details
The Ocean have put together a neat new website dedicated to their brand new album titled Pelagial. You can listen to snippets from 5 new songs on the website as well as know more about the concept of the album. You can already pre-order the limited boxsets which include a DVD, both instrumental and vocal versions of the album, as well as a 5kg acrylic box.
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| Source: | facebook.com |
| Band profile: | The Ocean |
The Ocean - To Release New Album In April
2013 will be a busy year for sludge metallers The Ocean, as the band will release a new album on April 26th (GSA), April 29th (Europe) and April 30th (USA) 2013 through Metal Blade Records, the follow-up to the Heliocentric and Anthropocentric albums. To support the release, The Ocean will embark on a three-week European tour with Cult Of Luna in April and May (dates available below), including a performance at Roadburn Festival on April 20th.
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| Source: | metalblade.com |
| Band profile: | The Ocean |
The Ocean - To Embark On Extensive Eastern European Tour
German sludge metallers The Ocean will extensively tour the countries of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, come this February. The band posted the following: "The Ocean will be embarking on an extended tour of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus in February/March 2012! We won't just be playing the major cities Moscow and St. Petersburg, we'll be going far beyond the Ural range and as far East as Novosibirsk and Krasnoyarsk in Siberia, about 500 km from the Mongolian border. Yes drives won't be short and it's gonna be brutally cold and we will probably die somewhere on the way, but hell we're stoked!"
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| Source: | facebook.com |
| Band profile: | The Ocean |
| Event: | The Ocean: Eastern Europe Tour |
The Ocean - To Support Devin Townsend On Upcoming Tour, New Video Online
German sludge metallers The Ocean, who previously reported that their North American tour plans were scrapped, have announced that they will be supporting fellow progressive act The Devin Townsend Project. The tour heads out on October 8th and promises to be one of the best progressive tours of the Fall. Those who have been wanting for longer sets from both acts, who often serve to support other bands on tour, will be treated to a once-on-a-lifetime evening of progressive metal grandeur.
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| Source: | facebook.com |
| Band profile: | The Ocean |
| Event: | Devin Townsend + The Ocean: North American Tour 2011 |
The Ocean - Working On New Material
The Ocean are currently in the writing process of a new full-length album, penciled in for a tentative mid-2012 release.
The Ocean guitarist and vocalist Robin Staps issued the following: "After 2 weeks of creative isolation at the new Oceanland on the Spanish coast, there are about 25 minutes of new material written and pre-produced which are basically one continuous piece of music. Apart from that, there are 4 more songs including a wicked cover track. Loic will start working on vocal pre-productions soon.
Much like when I wrote Precambrian in Australia, I have written these tracks on my own, far away from everything else and everyone else but with the sea close enough to have a strong impact on my flow of ideas. You can actually hear its subtle roar in the guitar tracks if you crank them up on a quiet passage. The other guys have not been involved much yet because they are busy with their other bands Coilguns and Kunz who will see their debut split CD released on Pelagic in September."
The Ocean will hit the studio some time in early 2012 to record the follow-up(s?) to Heliocentric and Anthropocentric. More tour dates to be announced soon.
Read more ››
The Ocean guitarist and vocalist Robin Staps issued the following: "After 2 weeks of creative isolation at the new Oceanland on the Spanish coast, there are about 25 minutes of new material written and pre-produced which are basically one continuous piece of music. Apart from that, there are 4 more songs including a wicked cover track. Loic will start working on vocal pre-productions soon.
Much like when I wrote Precambrian in Australia, I have written these tracks on my own, far away from everything else and everyone else but with the sea close enough to have a strong impact on my flow of ideas. You can actually hear its subtle roar in the guitar tracks if you crank them up on a quiet passage. The other guys have not been involved much yet because they are busy with their other bands Coilguns and Kunz who will see their debut split CD released on Pelagic in September."
The Ocean will hit the studio some time in early 2012 to record the follow-up(s?) to Heliocentric and Anthropocentric. More tour dates to be announced soon.
Read more ››
| Source: | myspace.com |
| Band profile: | The Ocean |
The Ocean - New Video Online
"The Grand Inquisitor II: Roots & Locusts", the new video from German metallers The Ocean , can be viewed at this location.
"The Grand Inquisitor II: Roots & Locusts" comes off the band's latest album, Anthropocentric, which was released last November via Metal Blade Records.
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"The Grand Inquisitor II: Roots & Locusts" comes off the band's latest album, Anthropocentric, which was released last November via Metal Blade Records.
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| Source: | metalinjection.net |
| Band profile: | The Ocean |
The Ocean - Supporting Anathema On Tour, Full Album Stream Online
The Ocean is currently on a full 5-weeks European tour supporting The Dillinger Escape Plan (get dates here) and will continue to support Anathema right after the end of this tour. The Ocean has been confirmed as main support for the following dates:
Nov 09 - Rocking Chair, Vevey, Switzerland
Nov 10 - Z7, Pratteln, Switzerland
Nov 11 - Estragon, Bologna, Italy
Nov 12 - Alpheus, Rome, Italy
Nov 13 - New Age, Treviso, Italy
Nov 14 - Magazzini Generali, Milan, Italy
Nov 15 - Boogaloo Club, Zagreb, Croatia
Nov 16 - Misthalle, Graz, Austria
Nov 17 - Viper Room, Vienna, Austria
Nov 18 - Diesel Club, Budapest, Hungary
Nov 21 - Akademija, Belgrade, Serbia (headline show)
Nov 22 - Randall, Bratislava, Slovakia
Nov 23 - Rock Café, Prague, Czech Republic
You can still pre-listen 2 tracks off the upcoming album Anthropocentric. "She Was The Universe" is streaming at this location, while the song "The Grand Inquisitor II: Roots & Lousts" is still available at Stereogum. A third track, entitled "Heaven TV" premiered on Full Metal Jackie last weekend.
UPDATE
Today MetalSucks.com will begin streaming Anthropocentric, the upcoming full-length from German progressive/atmospheric metal enigmas The Ocean, in its entirety. The stream will remain active until November 8, the day before the official North American release date. Check it out here.
UPDATE
Due to "technical problems during the manufacturing process," the release date of Anthropocentric, the new album from The Ocean has been pushed back to November 19 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy; and November 22 in the rest of Europe.
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Nov 09 - Rocking Chair, Vevey, Switzerland
Nov 10 - Z7, Pratteln, Switzerland
Nov 11 - Estragon, Bologna, Italy
Nov 12 - Alpheus, Rome, Italy
Nov 13 - New Age, Treviso, Italy
Nov 14 - Magazzini Generali, Milan, Italy
Nov 15 - Boogaloo Club, Zagreb, Croatia
Nov 16 - Misthalle, Graz, Austria
Nov 17 - Viper Room, Vienna, Austria
Nov 18 - Diesel Club, Budapest, Hungary
Nov 21 - Akademija, Belgrade, Serbia (headline show)
Nov 22 - Randall, Bratislava, Slovakia
Nov 23 - Rock Café, Prague, Czech Republic
You can still pre-listen 2 tracks off the upcoming album Anthropocentric. "She Was The Universe" is streaming at this location, while the song "The Grand Inquisitor II: Roots & Lousts" is still available at Stereogum. A third track, entitled "Heaven TV" premiered on Full Metal Jackie last weekend.
UPDATE
Today MetalSucks.com will begin streaming Anthropocentric, the upcoming full-length from German progressive/atmospheric metal enigmas The Ocean, in its entirety. The stream will remain active until November 8, the day before the official North American release date. Check it out here.
UPDATE
Due to "technical problems during the manufacturing process," the release date of Anthropocentric, the new album from The Ocean has been pushed back to November 19 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy; and November 22 in the rest of Europe.
Read more ››
| Source: | blogs.myspace.com |
| Band profile: | The Ocean |
The Ocean - Check Out The New Song
You can now check out a brand new The Ocean track, called "The Grand Inquisitor II - Roots & Locusts", off the band's upcoming album entitled Anthropocentric, at Stereogum. The album Anthropocentric serves as part two of the concept explored on the band's well-received Heliocentric long player, released this past spring and will be released in North America on 9th November via Metal Blade.
Furthermore, the Landing Page for Anthropocentric is now live as well, offering fans in the US, UK, Canada, and Europe a chance to pre-order the album. "She Was the Universe," the third track off Anthropocentric, is streaming now. Metal Blade Records will continue to update the Landing Page leading up to and throughout the release of Anthropocentric with news, tours, dates, video footage, and more so be sure to check back frequently.
"Despite the fact that Darwin inaugurated a paradigm shift in modern natural science, his thoughts were not the last nail in Christianity's coffin. There are still people who believe that the teachings in Genesis are to be taken verbatim. These people are at the crosslines of Anthropocentric. Anthropocentric challenges the views of creationists and other modern fundamentalists who still believe that the earth is at the center of the universe and no more than 5,000 years old. Where Heliocentric covered a large range of dynamics and styles from calm, soulful songs based on piano and vocals to moments of eclectic heaviness, Anthropocentric is more straight forward, technical and soul-searingly heavy, whilst still tapping into the band's signature range of dynamics."
To check out "The Grand Inquisitor II - Roots & Locusts," visit Stereogum. More information about the album can be found here.
Read more ››
Furthermore, the Landing Page for Anthropocentric is now live as well, offering fans in the US, UK, Canada, and Europe a chance to pre-order the album. "She Was the Universe," the third track off Anthropocentric, is streaming now. Metal Blade Records will continue to update the Landing Page leading up to and throughout the release of Anthropocentric with news, tours, dates, video footage, and more so be sure to check back frequently.
"Despite the fact that Darwin inaugurated a paradigm shift in modern natural science, his thoughts were not the last nail in Christianity's coffin. There are still people who believe that the teachings in Genesis are to be taken verbatim. These people are at the crosslines of Anthropocentric. Anthropocentric challenges the views of creationists and other modern fundamentalists who still believe that the earth is at the center of the universe and no more than 5,000 years old. Where Heliocentric covered a large range of dynamics and styles from calm, soulful songs based on piano and vocals to moments of eclectic heaviness, Anthropocentric is more straight forward, technical and soul-searingly heavy, whilst still tapping into the band's signature range of dynamics."
To check out "The Grand Inquisitor II - Roots & Locusts," visit Stereogum. More information about the album can be found here.
Read more ››
| Source: | blogs.myspace.com |
| Band profile: | The Ocean |
The Ocean - New Album Details, European Tour Dates With Dillinger Escape Plan
Official press release
The Ocean are currently in the process of mixing their upcoming album Anthropocentric at Studio Mecanique in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, the same place where Heliocentric was recorded and mixed. The album will be mastered on August 25th by Svante Forsbäck in Helsinki.
Musically, the album feels somehow heavier than Heliocentric. "The sound is more dense and maybe a tad more raw, which suits the songs perfectly", comments guitar player Jonathan Nido. The album covers a similar sonic and dynamic range as Heliocentric, also including a number of calm, acoustic moments - but these are for the most part orchestrated with guitars, and not so much with piano and string section. The focus is on the heavy songs: "The album is a pretty big production, and still has a very earthy, organic feel to it", comments guitarist Robin Staps. "We have spent a great deal of time on the basic sound this time around, drums, bass, guitars and vocals... and at this stage I am pretty confident that this will pay off in the end!"
As far as the concepts behind Anthropocentric are concerned, the focus is on man and his place in the universe: at the center, as many fundamental Christians still claim today, or more likely a dust particle in its periphery? All lyrics are circling around this question. Anthropocentric will continue the critique of christianity, inspired by the questions that Dostoyevsky asked and some of the answers that Friedrich Nietzsche and Richard Dawkins gave", comments Staps. At the base of the album are three songs with the titles "The Grand Inquisitor I, II and III". These songs have been inspired by the chapter of the same title in Fyodor Dostoyevsky's novel The Brothers Karamasov: a conversation between the brothers Ivan, an atheist, and Alyoscha, a monk. Ivan tells Alyoscha the story of a Second Coming of Christ in 16th century Sevilla. According to this parable, Jesus is arrested by the Catholic inquisition. The grand inquisitor who interrogates Jesus casts a new light on the legend of the temptation of Christ: he reproaches Jesus with having betrayed humanity and having deprived man of salvation by offering him freedom. The conversation between Ivan and Alyoscha mirrors, to some degree, the conversation between the grand inquisitor and Christ and raises more questions than it answers. "This long dialogue, which for the most part is rather a monologue of Ivan, is so complex and recondite that one could easily find inspiration for 10 concept albums about Christianity in it", comments Staps.
Read more ››
The Ocean are currently in the process of mixing their upcoming album Anthropocentric at Studio Mecanique in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, the same place where Heliocentric was recorded and mixed. The album will be mastered on August 25th by Svante Forsbäck in Helsinki.
Musically, the album feels somehow heavier than Heliocentric. "The sound is more dense and maybe a tad more raw, which suits the songs perfectly", comments guitar player Jonathan Nido. The album covers a similar sonic and dynamic range as Heliocentric, also including a number of calm, acoustic moments - but these are for the most part orchestrated with guitars, and not so much with piano and string section. The focus is on the heavy songs: "The album is a pretty big production, and still has a very earthy, organic feel to it", comments guitarist Robin Staps. "We have spent a great deal of time on the basic sound this time around, drums, bass, guitars and vocals... and at this stage I am pretty confident that this will pay off in the end!"
As far as the concepts behind Anthropocentric are concerned, the focus is on man and his place in the universe: at the center, as many fundamental Christians still claim today, or more likely a dust particle in its periphery? All lyrics are circling around this question. Anthropocentric will continue the critique of christianity, inspired by the questions that Dostoyevsky asked and some of the answers that Friedrich Nietzsche and Richard Dawkins gave", comments Staps. At the base of the album are three songs with the titles "The Grand Inquisitor I, II and III". These songs have been inspired by the chapter of the same title in Fyodor Dostoyevsky's novel The Brothers Karamasov: a conversation between the brothers Ivan, an atheist, and Alyoscha, a monk. Ivan tells Alyoscha the story of a Second Coming of Christ in 16th century Sevilla. According to this parable, Jesus is arrested by the Catholic inquisition. The grand inquisitor who interrogates Jesus casts a new light on the legend of the temptation of Christ: he reproaches Jesus with having betrayed humanity and having deprived man of salvation by offering him freedom. The conversation between Ivan and Alyoscha mirrors, to some degree, the conversation between the grand inquisitor and Christ and raises more questions than it answers. "This long dialogue, which for the most part is rather a monologue of Ivan, is so complex and recondite that one could easily find inspiration for 10 concept albums about Christianity in it", comments Staps.
Read more ››
| Source: | blogs.myspace.com |
| Band profile: | The Ocean |
| Event: | The Dillinger Escape Plan: European Tour |
The Ocean - New Album Streaming Today
MetalSucks.net is teaming up with Metal Blade Records and The Ocean to exclusively stream Heliocentric in its entirety on Thursday, April 8th through Friday, April 9th (lasting through 11:59pm EDT). Head over here to stream the album.
The Ocean is releasing two albums in 2010 - the first being Heliocentric, which streets on April 13th, and the second being Anthropocentric, due out in autumn 2010. The concept at the base of both albums is a critique of Christianity from different philosophical and personal angles.
Read more ››
The Ocean is releasing two albums in 2010 - the first being Heliocentric, which streets on April 13th, and the second being Anthropocentric, due out in autumn 2010. The concept at the base of both albums is a critique of Christianity from different philosophical and personal angles.
Read more ››
| Source: | metalblade.com |
| Band profile: | The Ocean |
The Ocean - Album Details Revealed
The Ocean's upcoming albums are going to be entitled Heliocentric and Anthropocentric. They are due for April and October 2010. The concept at the base of both albums is a critique of Christianity from different philosophical and personal angles.
While the songs, art and lyrics of Heliocentric tell the story of the rise of the heliocentric world view and its effects on Christian belief from medieval times to Darwin and Dawkins, Anthropocentric challenges the views of creationists and other modern fundamentalists who still believe that the Earth is at the center of the universe.
Heliocentric cover art] tracklist:
01. Shamayim
02. Firmament
03. The First Commandment Of The Luminaries
04. Ptolemy Was Wrong
05. Metaphysics Of The Hangman
06. Catharsis Of A Heretic
07. Swallowed By The Earth
08. Epiphany
09. The Origin Of Species
10. The Origin Of God
Musically, Heliocentric covers the largest range of dynamics and styles to date: "There are a few really calm songs with mainly piano and vocals, as well as some crushing heavy tunes. There is a very special atmosphere to it that pervades the album," comments guitarist Jonathan Nido.
"Our new vocalist Loic Rossetti has immensely widened the musical spectrum of this band and there are some songs on the album that even those people who have conceived of this band as being unpredictable and daring would have never imagined," adds Robin Staps. "But this is exactly what makes it a 150% The Ocean album."
Heliocentric continues where the Proterozoic half of the Precambrian album left off, with dense, epic songs and big orchestrations. Anthropocentric is going to be a bit more straight forward rocking and technical, whilst tapping the full dynamic range from acoustic pieces to eclectic heaviness as well.
The albums were mainly recorded in the mountainous isolation of La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, the highest city of Europe. The band decided to record and mix the album with the band's house sound engineer Julien Fehlmann: "We wanted to be in control of every single detail, and we have an amazing studio at hand here. Sound-wise this is by far the best-sounding album we have done to date."
The lyrics and snippets of every song of the album can be previewed here and here.
(Also thanks to BudDa)
Read more ››
While the songs, art and lyrics of Heliocentric tell the story of the rise of the heliocentric world view and its effects on Christian belief from medieval times to Darwin and Dawkins, Anthropocentric challenges the views of creationists and other modern fundamentalists who still believe that the Earth is at the center of the universe.
Heliocentric cover art] tracklist:
01. Shamayim
02. Firmament
03. The First Commandment Of The Luminaries
04. Ptolemy Was Wrong
05. Metaphysics Of The Hangman
06. Catharsis Of A Heretic
07. Swallowed By The Earth
08. Epiphany
09. The Origin Of Species
10. The Origin Of God
Musically, Heliocentric covers the largest range of dynamics and styles to date: "There are a few really calm songs with mainly piano and vocals, as well as some crushing heavy tunes. There is a very special atmosphere to it that pervades the album," comments guitarist Jonathan Nido.
"Our new vocalist Loic Rossetti has immensely widened the musical spectrum of this band and there are some songs on the album that even those people who have conceived of this band as being unpredictable and daring would have never imagined," adds Robin Staps. "But this is exactly what makes it a 150% The Ocean album."
Heliocentric continues where the Proterozoic half of the Precambrian album left off, with dense, epic songs and big orchestrations. Anthropocentric is going to be a bit more straight forward rocking and technical, whilst tapping the full dynamic range from acoustic pieces to eclectic heaviness as well.
The albums were mainly recorded in the mountainous isolation of La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, the highest city of Europe. The band decided to record and mix the album with the band's house sound engineer Julien Fehlmann: "We wanted to be in control of every single detail, and we have an amazing studio at hand here. Sound-wise this is by far the best-sounding album we have done to date."
The lyrics and snippets of every song of the album can be previewed here and here.
(Also thanks to BudDa)
Read more ››
| Source: | metalblade.com |
| Band profile: | The Ocean |
The Ocean - New Album Samples Online
Germans metallers The Ocean have launched a new site in support of their forthcoming album, entitled Heliocentric.
Head to this location to listen to audio samples for the following tracks:
Firmament
The First Commandent Of The Luminaries
Ptolemy Was Wrong
Metaphysics Of The Hangman
Catharsis Of A Heretic
Swallowed By The Earth
Epiphany
The Origin Of Species
The Origin Of God
Read more ››
Head to this location to listen to audio samples for the following tracks:
Firmament
The First Commandent Of The Luminaries
Ptolemy Was Wrong
Metaphysics Of The Hangman
Catharsis Of A Heretic
Swallowed By The Earth
Epiphany
The Origin Of Species
The Origin Of God
Read more ››
| Source: | theoceancollective.com |
| Band profile: | The Ocean |
The Ocean - New Singer Announced, Two New Albums On The Way
German metallers The Ocean have issued the following update on their MySpace blog:
"Ladies and Gentlemen,
After many weeks in the dark, The Ocean have finally found a new vocalist. We are happy to announce Mr. Loïc Rossetti as tour new vocalist. "We are looking forward to weeks and months of intense touring in the future and a new era in the story of our lives!", comments Robin Staps.
"Having Loïc in the band enables me to do what I've always been wanting to do with this band. His voice is strong and expressive and his variety of tone and the ease with which he switches between different vocal styles really amazing. There are no limits anymore. His screams are devastating, but his most valuable quality is his singing voice, which we will employ much more on the upcoming album."
Comments Loïc Rossetti: "Being part of The Ocean is a great honour for me. I can utilize the full range of my voice, and the band is pushing me to do so... it's a great challenge."
Over the course of the past 6 months, the band has received more than 150 applications from people from all over the world. "Many have recorded vocals for "The City In The Sea" and there was a lot of good stuff coming in. Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to try out, we truly appreciate it!", comments Jonathan Nido.
The addition of Rossetti marks the final step in a recent development within the band: after 8 years of existence, The Ocean has recently been transforming from a collective into a band. This doesn't mean that there will not be changes of line-up ever again: "I have been playing music long enough to know that people are usually in this for a limited time", comments Staps... "But the people I am working with now are the people I have always been looking for, and naturally, everyone else is much more involved than ever before."
The collective is not dead. As a matter of fact, the upcoming album will feature the largest number of additional musicians to date, mainly classical players. The band has spent the better part of the year working feverishly on their upcoming 2 albums which are due for March and September 2010 releases. More news will follow soon."
Read more ››
"Ladies and Gentlemen,
After many weeks in the dark, The Ocean have finally found a new vocalist. We are happy to announce Mr. Loïc Rossetti as tour new vocalist. "We are looking forward to weeks and months of intense touring in the future and a new era in the story of our lives!", comments Robin Staps.
"Having Loïc in the band enables me to do what I've always been wanting to do with this band. His voice is strong and expressive and his variety of tone and the ease with which he switches between different vocal styles really amazing. There are no limits anymore. His screams are devastating, but his most valuable quality is his singing voice, which we will employ much more on the upcoming album."
Comments Loïc Rossetti: "Being part of The Ocean is a great honour for me. I can utilize the full range of my voice, and the band is pushing me to do so... it's a great challenge."
Over the course of the past 6 months, the band has received more than 150 applications from people from all over the world. "Many have recorded vocals for "The City In The Sea" and there was a lot of good stuff coming in. Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to try out, we truly appreciate it!", comments Jonathan Nido.
The addition of Rossetti marks the final step in a recent development within the band: after 8 years of existence, The Ocean has recently been transforming from a collective into a band. This doesn't mean that there will not be changes of line-up ever again: "I have been playing music long enough to know that people are usually in this for a limited time", comments Staps... "But the people I am working with now are the people I have always been looking for, and naturally, everyone else is much more involved than ever before."
The collective is not dead. As a matter of fact, the upcoming album will feature the largest number of additional musicians to date, mainly classical players. The band has spent the better part of the year working feverishly on their upcoming 2 albums which are due for March and September 2010 releases. More news will follow soon."
Read more ››
| Source: | blogs.myspace.com |
| Band profile: | The Ocean |
The Ocean - Part Ways With Vocalist
The Ocean guitarist Robin Staps has issued the following statement regarding the departure of vocalist Mike Pilat:
"Being in a band is the constant struggle to reach the one, the final, the ultimate line-up. The right people, the right musicians. The line-up that clicks, where the music that is created on stage is somehow greater than the sum of each individual's output. Once a band has reached that line-up, it is flirting with divinity, it has the chance to be larger than life, to touch majesty.
Any lineup is usually a very fragile constellation, and essentially a ticking time-bomb. 5 passionate people's egos, their respective ideas, preferences, defects, habits, characters, the insecurities of their lives, all these are dangerous threats to the existence and future of a band. Struggle is an integral part of any band's existence. As my friend Mitch pointed out recently, Van Halen were only a decent band with David Lee Roth in the band, but everybody hated him. There are countless examples.
It felt like we were close to that ultimate line-up. Very close. The people I have been playing with over the past year and a half are not only amazing musicians, but also amazing people. The Ocean has consolidated into a band over the past 2 years. I am no longer alone.. and still, to some degree, The Ocean will always remain a collective, I guess.
Mike is no longer with us. He's got his reasons, and we understand and respect them. The Ocean has played the ridiculous amount of 141 shows in the past 12 months, and travelled an insane 75704 (!!!) of road kilometers between Kiew, Ukraine and Los Angeles, California.
The life we lead isn't made for everyone. Only some of my closest friends understand what life is like when you spend half of the year on the road. There is not much time for girlfriends, friends, family, career or any so-called private life. And yet the upsides make up for it: the chance to see places we would never get to see otherwise, the chance to constantly meet new people, all the countless moments of intensity, passion and craziness. Our tour diaries tell the story, there's a new one coming up here from the previous tour soon. It is the life we have chosen, for now, the life we embrace, the life we love, most of the time..."
Here is what Mike has to say: "So folks after almost 2 years and an obscene amount of drinking, debauchery and awesome shows I have parted ways with The Ocean.
There are many reasons and it was a hard decision to reach but what it boils down to is my poor financial situation and I need to continue working with my other band Collusion and with constant touring this is not possible for me any more.
Read more ››
"Being in a band is the constant struggle to reach the one, the final, the ultimate line-up. The right people, the right musicians. The line-up that clicks, where the music that is created on stage is somehow greater than the sum of each individual's output. Once a band has reached that line-up, it is flirting with divinity, it has the chance to be larger than life, to touch majesty.
Any lineup is usually a very fragile constellation, and essentially a ticking time-bomb. 5 passionate people's egos, their respective ideas, preferences, defects, habits, characters, the insecurities of their lives, all these are dangerous threats to the existence and future of a band. Struggle is an integral part of any band's existence. As my friend Mitch pointed out recently, Van Halen were only a decent band with David Lee Roth in the band, but everybody hated him. There are countless examples.
It felt like we were close to that ultimate line-up. Very close. The people I have been playing with over the past year and a half are not only amazing musicians, but also amazing people. The Ocean has consolidated into a band over the past 2 years. I am no longer alone.. and still, to some degree, The Ocean will always remain a collective, I guess.
Mike is no longer with us. He's got his reasons, and we understand and respect them. The Ocean has played the ridiculous amount of 141 shows in the past 12 months, and travelled an insane 75704 (!!!) of road kilometers between Kiew, Ukraine and Los Angeles, California.
The life we lead isn't made for everyone. Only some of my closest friends understand what life is like when you spend half of the year on the road. There is not much time for girlfriends, friends, family, career or any so-called private life. And yet the upsides make up for it: the chance to see places we would never get to see otherwise, the chance to constantly meet new people, all the countless moments of intensity, passion and craziness. Our tour diaries tell the story, there's a new one coming up here from the previous tour soon. It is the life we have chosen, for now, the life we embrace, the life we love, most of the time..."
Here is what Mike has to say: "So folks after almost 2 years and an obscene amount of drinking, debauchery and awesome shows I have parted ways with The Ocean.
There are many reasons and it was a hard decision to reach but what it boils down to is my poor financial situation and I need to continue working with my other band Collusion and with constant touring this is not possible for me any more.
Read more ››
| Source: | blogs.myspace.com |
| Band profile: | The Ocean |