German post-metal vanguards The Ocean have announced they are finally returning to Australia this April to take fans Down Under through their highly acclaimed album Pelagial, one of 2013’s most critically acclaimed releases, in full for the very first time in Australia.
The band will be kicking off their latest Australian tour at Canberra’s The Basement on Wednesday, 18th April, before heading to Sydney’s The Factory Floor on the 10th, Brisbane’s The Brightside on the 11th, Byron Bay’s The Northern on the 12th, Adelaide’s Jive on the 16th, Melbourne’s The Evelyn Hotel on the 18th, and Perth’s Amplifier on Sunday, 19th April.
The past few years have seen The Ocean relentlessly traversing the globe to accompany the iconic likes of Opeth, Devin Townsend Project, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Between The Buried And Me, The Black Dahlia Murder, and many more, cementing their reputation as an unforgettable live act everywhere from Siberia, to Hong Kong.
Pelagial, a concept record that takes the listener on a journey that begins at the surface of the ocean and plunges through all five pelagic depth zones, is a progressive and ambitious musical odyssey, written, recorded, mixed, and performed as one single 53-minute piece of music, making for a live experience unlike any other.
To celebrate this epic tour, the band chatted to us about some of the records that changed their lives. Check them out below, and check out the band as they roll into your town.
Guns n Roses – Appetite for Destruction
1987, Geffen
Why/ how it changed your live/ how you appreciate music: this was the first band that I became a completely obsessed fanboy of, at age 12, to a degree where I knew all the lyrics by heart and listened to nothing else for months.
It was my first real contact with Rock N ‘ Roll. Saw them live on the Use Your Illusion tour a year later, with Soundgarden and Faith No More opening, which was another high-impact experience. (Robin Staps)
Breach – Venom
1999, Trust No One Recordings
Why/ how it changed your live/ how you appreciate music: this album was heavy music like nothing I had ever heard before: incredibly dark and brutal, yet not metal at all, but more driven by a dark rock n roll vibe… hard to describe, but I was under the spell for months again, while I was in pretty shit position in life and didn’t really know what to do.
Listening to this album made me want to pursue music seriously, and set the course for this decision. I wanted to create music like this, to play guitar like this. (Robin Staps)
Fugazi – In on the Kill Taker
1993, Dischord
The first time I listened to that record in the 90s I couldn’t really understand what they were doing, but I couldn’t stop listening to that record, and I’m still listening to it today.
I got addicted to these weird harmonies, angular rhythms and these super-annoying vocals immediately.
This record is definitely one of a kind. Still a great inspiration! (Chris Breuer)
Meshuggah – Nothing
2002, AVALON
I listened to the opening track Stengah back in 2001. It was part of a promo sampler, that our guitarist had brought to rehearsal to show us something, „we had never ever heard before”. He was right.
I was completely mesmerized by the sheer madness and brutality, the inscrutable yet catchy songwriting, that seemed to have been sent to earth from another planet. Since that day i have been absorbing every single release, especially Catch 33, which hit my eardrums approximately 204.756 times already and is still one of my alltime favorite records.
The unique songwriting with it’s polyrhythmic structures has not only deeply influenced my playing style. It has also evolved into a whole generation of musicians looking to further the depths of rhythmical approaches and dark, heavy soundscapes. (Paul Seidel)
Mare – Mare EP
2004, Hydra Head Records
I think my first contact with this masterpiece was around 2007, while being on tour with my old band War From A Harlot’s Mouth.
This is the only release of the three-piece band, which split-up shortly after unfortunately, to follow other projects like Pyramids, Circle Takes The Square etc.. The vocalist also used to sing for The End. If that doesn’t ring a bell?!
This record has everything. Doom, Sludge, Jazz, Choirs and is so breathtakingly intense, that i need to sit down and recharge after every spin i give it. If you’re into gloomy, dirty, epic music, that takes more than a second to digest, this is a must have! (Paul Seidel)
The Ocean Australian Tour Dates
Thursday, 9th April 2015
The Basement, Canberra
Tickets: Wild Thing Presents | Oztix
Friday, 10th April 2015
The Factory Floor, Sydney
Tickets: Wild Thing Presents | Oztix
Saturday, 11th April 2015
The Brightside, Brisbane
Tickets: Wild Thing Presents | Oztix
Sunday, 12th April 2015
The Northern, Byron Bay
Tickets: Wild Thing Presents | Oztix
Thursday, 16th April 2015
Jive, Adelaide
Tickets: Wild Thing Presents | Oztix
Saturday, 18th April 2015
The Evelyn Hotel, Melbourne
Tickets: Wild Thing Presents | Oztix
Sunday, 19th April 2015
Amplifier, Perth
Tickets: Wild Thing Presents | Oztix
