Band:	The Ocean
Album:	Pelagial
Style:	Post-metal, Progressive metal, Atmospheric sludge metal
Release date:	April 26, 2013
A review by:	R'Vannith

Disc I
01. Epipelagic
02. Mesopelagic: Into The Uncanny
03. Bathyalpelagic I: Impasses
04. Bathyalpelagic II: The Wish In Dreams
05. Bathyalpelagic III: Disequillibrated
06. Abyssopelagic I: Boundless Vasts
07. Abyssopelagic II: Signals Of Anxiety
08. Hadopelagic I: Omen Of The Deep
09. Hadopelagic II: Let Them Believe
10. Demersal: Cognitive Dissonance
11. Benthic: The Origin Of Our Wishes

Disc II [Instrumental]

It's clear that The Ocean are out to leave an impression with their latest release. It takes their imagery to its fullest expression yet, combined with lyrical inspiration taken from the 1979 sci-fi film "Stalker." Before you is a listening experience that aims at a thought provoking dive into an environment to which The Ocean are entirely accustomed. The question is do they achieve this goal; is it worth the plunge? Let me tell you, you're going to want more than to just dip your toes into this one.

Pelagial is well layered, divided as it is into seven "pelagial zones" or the various levels of oceanic waters. Each of these zones bring something different and as you pass through them and sink deeper into the album its varied nature becomes increasingly obvious. The progressive depths of this sludge and post metal mix are often churned with the technical delivery in the guitars, forming key points of focus throughout the initial stages of album. The additional effects designed to create atmosphere are connected to the album's theme with the sounds of submersion beneath bubbling water.

Of all the zones the three part Bathyalpelagic is the most direct and where the vocals are best represented, their constant changeover between clean to hardcore abrasion aiding the swifter pacing. The further beneath this zone you sink the more the vocal work seems to lose its dominance as the sludge steadily decreases in pace and the post metal holds a stronger and more formative presence. Obviously if you opt for the instrumental version of the album the vocals are stripped away, further revealing an impressive display of drum work and constant interplay between the guitars, bass and symphonic layers. Yet this also removes the album's hardcore essence, a remarkable feature of the band's sound, which is mainly brought through in the dual stylings of Rossetti and Staps.

By the Abyssopelagic zone the vocals begin to recede deeper into the mix and hold less of a domineering role. This zone is a particularly melodic one where the "Boundless Vasts" of the first part are felt through an evocative and guitar twining introduction which becomes something astonishingly diverse within its three and a half minute frame, ending on a solemn note. The second part represents the point at which the sound changes dramatically, forming an atmospherically drenched sludge around a central melodic line.

The symphonic additions receive particular attention within the song writing. From the outset they are a point of focus in the first two tracks or as the transition is made through and into the subsequent pelagial zones they are used sparingly but to great effect as they fall beneath the crushing pressures at the album's very depths, such as in the "Demersal" zone with the piano keys occupying the background.

The clarity of expression is what makes this album truly impressive. Each of the tracks and each of the pelagial zones are distinguishable and effectively follow the band's predetermined direction. The Ocean have evident control of their sound and the ability to write an identifiable and vivid sequence in their musical exploration of the pelagial zones is well represented.