The 2013 Pelagial album, their sixth studio effort, is an outstanding, completely out of the ordinary work, with very heavy and aggressive beats, yet amazing melodies, proving once more that they can do an excellent mixture of the traditional with refreshing new elements. A concept album, the tracks are all named for the different layers of the ocean depths, like if you’re descending deeper and deeper into the ocean’s dark abysmal plains, further and further on each track, with the music accompanying this lower descent, becoming progressively darker and claustrophobically tense. According to some band members, this descent into the darkness of the ocean serves also as a metaphor for the human psychological condition as well, since it explores the most afflictive side of the human mind.
The ones familiar with the work of the band will not be disappointed. Pelagial is The Ocean at their best form, and this is no surprise, since Germany long has a tradition for giving us some of the best metal bands in the world. Their unbound, unrestrained and unlimited creative layout, while preserving in the surface of their music the most common traits of metal music, underlines in the core of their work the most beautiful, calm and proficient harmonies, and the whole concept fits perfectly with the tone of the music in each track, giving, in the end, the impression that you heard only one evolving music, one progressive orchestral masterpiece, that evolves gradually from a very dark starting point. All set, arranged and perfectly executed in the deeper layers of The Ocean zone.
While Pelagial was initially planned as a purely instrumental album, vocals were added later. Nevertheless, both versions are available. So, pick up yours, and enjoy the journey into the deepest darkness of The Ocean. Or you can dare listening to both versions, and decide for yourself which one fits better your taste. For my turn, this amazing work of art has definitely conquered, with all rights and merits, its place in progressive metal history.
Wagner