The Ocean - Solaris (2026)
This is a strong The Ocean album, but I don't think the full record is as consistent as its best moments.
The main thing that works is the scale. The long tracks actually feel ambitious rather than just long for the sake of it, and there is a real sense of movement between heaviness, atmosphere and the more electronic passages. The new vocal setup also gives the album more contrast than I expected.
“Simulacra, Part III” is my favourite track. That is where the whole album clicks best for me. The tension, the build, the atmosphere and the final payoff all feel properly earned. It has the density and darkness I want from The Ocean, but also enough detail and progression to avoid becoming another generic post-metal crescendo.
“Ultima Esperanza” is another highlight, and “Light Pollution” works very well too. The electronics are especially useful because they give the record another dimension instead of just adding background texture. The Tangerine Dream influence near the end is one of the better surprises.
The problem is the length. At nearly seventy minutes, there are several moments where the album stretches ideas beyond what they really need. Some passages are impressive in isolation but don't add much once the point has already been made.
That matters because The Ocean are at their best when the architecture feels inevitable. Here, some tracks feel tightly constructed, while others feel like they could lose two or three minutes without losing anything important.
I also don't think every part of the album reaches the same emotional level as “Simulacra, Part III.” The sound is consistently strong, the production is excellent, and the band clearly has a bigger palette now, but the songwriting is not equally memorable from beginning to end.
So 69 feels right. Very good, with several excellent sections and one track I would definitely come back to, but not quite disciplined or consistently memorable enough for the low 70s.
69/100
❤️ Favourite track: “Simulacra, Part III”
+ Excellent atmosphere and long-form dynamics
+ “Simulacra, Part III” delivers one of the album’s strongest emotional payoffs
+ Electronics genuinely broaden The Ocean’s sound
– Several tracks are longer than their ideas justify
– The 69-minute runtime dilutes the strongest moments
– Not every section reaches the same level of memorability as the best material
Genre: Post Metal
Country: Germany
Final Verdict: 69% (Good Album)
Yearly Ranking: 73th / 723
Highlight: Simulacra part 3
Made me think of:
Cult of Luna
ISIS
Amenra
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