At the Edge of Heaviness and Innovation: The Ocean on Audiotree From Nothing
Founded at the turn of the millennium, Berlin-based post-metal powerhouse The Ocean—spearheaded by guitarist and visionary Robin Staps—continues to defy categorization and expectation.
For over two decades, the collective has carved out a singular space in the global heavy music scene, fusing relentless sonic intensity with cerebral, postmodern atmospherics. Their sound traverses the realms of post-rock, progressive metal, and hardcore, executed with surgical precision and unwavering ambition.
From the very beginning, The Ocean has stood apart for its intellectual rigor and musical evolution. With ‘Holocene’ (2023), the final chapter in their palaeontology-themed saga that began with ‘Precambrian’ (2007), the band embraced electronic textures without sacrificing their trademark heaviness—redefining what « heavy » can mean in the process. This seamless blend of concept, experimentation, and crushing musicianship is what has kept The Ocean on the cutting edge of forward-thinking metal for more than 20 years.
Now, Audiotree From Nothing presents a rare and powerful glimpse into this era of The Ocean. This intimate live session captures the synergy of a lineup that has defined the band’s recent evolution: Paul Seidel (drums, vocals), Robin Staps (guitar, vocals), Loïc Rossetti (vocals), David Ramis Åhfeldt (guitar), and Mattias Hägerstrand (bass). Together, they perform selections from four seminal albums—’Pelagial’ (2013), ‘Heliocentric’ (2010), ‘Phanerozoic I’ (2018), and ‘Holocene’ (2023)—each piece a reflection of The Ocean’s uncompromising artistic journey.
While ‘Audiotree From Nothing’ marks the close of a chapter, it also acts as a reverent tribute to the band’s evolution—and a bold nod to what lies ahead.