Continuing with the massive lead up to their highly anticipated new album, Germany’s post-metal-elite The Ocean Collective have unveiled the absolutely explosive visuals for their “Cambrian II: Eternal Recurrence,” the third track release from Phanerozoic I: Palaeozoic.
As The Ocean are known for their mammoth melodies, ebbing from crushing climaxes to gorgeously intricate interludes, so the video matches their prehistoric, theatrical leanings. Using makeup and hand-molded masks, director Craig Murray transforms vocalist Loic Rossetti into a Cambrian-age lichen-creature, weaving molds of the band into a rocky prehistoric landscape, taking hours to meticulously shoot the video frame-by-frame.
Explains Murray, “This is a practical effects film which leans towards multiple single frame captures to creature the sequences. Everything is built from scratch. There’s long exposure animation, stop frame, miniatures and cloud tanks. If the thing I’m working with can’t be physically picked up and held in my hand, I struggle to understand how to use it; I prefer this long, messy and exhausting process.”
Adds The Ocean mastermind Robin Staps, “Craig has created a unique aesthetic visualization of our music, which is different from anything I’ve ever seen. He’s spent 6 sleepless weeks working on this basically non-stop, all by himself. He plastered tons of clay and lichens over Loic’s face and head, and really managed to turn him into an imaginary ‘Cambrian creature‘. It’s incredible to see the final result now, and how the whole thing has evolved.”
What results is a nearly eight-minute epic journey through space and time, fusing art, special effects, science, and absolutely mind-melting rock!
The Ocean, will release volume one of their highly anticipated 8th studio album
Phanerozoic I: Palaeozoic via Wild Thing Records in Australia on Friday, November 2.
The Listen to the albums first single, Permian / The Great Dying here
Watch the video for Devonian: Nascent featuring Jonas Renkse of Katatonia here
THE OCEAN HEADLINE PROGFEST 2019
Saturday, January 26: The Croxton, Melbourne
Sunday, January 27: The Factory Theatre, Sydney
Monday, January 28: The Valley Drive In / The Brightside, Brisbane (Public Holiday)
Tickets available now from wildthingpresents.com
