What makes Holocene by The Ocean notable?

Holocene has been recognized for its innovative approach to post-metal, earning critical acclaim for pushing the boundaries of the genre. It debuted at number one on the German Rock & Metal charts, highlighting the band’s growing influence and drawing attention to their thematic focus on climate change and geological time scales. Released on May 19, 2023, Holocene marks The Ocean's continued evolution in the post-metal genre following their acclaimed 2020 album Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic | Cenozoic. This album features a duality of instrumental and vocal tracks, showcasing the band's ambition to explore environmental themes through complex compositions while solidifying their reputation within the progressive metal scene.

Holocene works well if you're into wave-like pacing with climaxes, immersive journey through soundscapes and long-form exploration of themes.

How many songs are on Holocene?

Holocene has 21 tracks, running approximately 150 minutes.

Holocene

The Ocean · 2023

150 min · 21 tracks · post-metal

A sweeping exploration of soundscapes that meld atmospheric post-metal with intricate instrumentation and evocative themes of nature's evolution.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Preboreal — This opening track sets an atmospheric tone with its haunting melodies and layered instrumentals, establishing the album's thematic exploration of Earth's ancient climates.
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Atlantic — With its expansive runtime, this track combines heavy riffs with serene passages, illustrating the dynamic range that characterizes The Ocean's sound while reflecting on oceanic themes.
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Recurrence — The closing track's lengthy composition encapsulates the album's journey through time and space, merging powerful instrumentation with reflective moments that resonate deeply.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

67 /100

Alpine

Higher than 91% of albums we've rated

The album effectively blends vocal and instrumental elements, creating an immersive soundscape that rewards repeated listens.

What we noticed

The first half of the album features vocal tracks that build tension with layered instrumentation, while the second half shifts to instrumental versions of those tracks.
Each track transitions smoothly into the next, creating a continuous flow that enhances the immersive experience.
Several tracks utilize dynamic shifts in volume and intensity, allowing for moments of quiet reflection followed by powerful crescendos.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

wave-like pacing with climaxes
immersive journey through soundscapes
long-form exploration of themes
atmospheric intricacies and heaviness
reflective moments of introspection

Maybe skip if you

prefer concise, standalone tracks
seek immediate gratification

Where this album fits

Career context: Released on May 19, 2023, Holocene marks The Ocean's continued evolution in the post-metal genre following their acclaimed 2020 album Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic | Cenozoic. This album features a duality of instrumental and vocal tracks, showcasing the band's ambition to explore environmental themes through complex compositions while solidifying their reputation within the progressive metal scene.
Stylistic neighbors: Cult of Luna· Neurosis· Isis