And here I was barely yesterday pretty okay with thinking that there would only be one worthwhile album coming out this year that covered any sort of natural or even geographic history of any sort, but, clearly, I was mistaken. I was convinced that Thecondontion would be the sole band to do so with “Supercontinent”, but The Ocean Collective refused to stay silent and I honestly cannot think of a better album to contribute to such an odd yet befitting subject for metal.

Just the very name of The Ocean Collective should inspire specific flavors in the mind of anyone who’s heard them whether or not they be a fan of the band’s particular brand of progressive metal, and it’s the exact sort of thing that sticks with you. The last album in the Phanerozoic series, also known as the first one, is still very well regarded in many circles, but I fully believe that “Mesozoic | Cenozoic” is an improvement in just about every single way. The songwriting is simply peak for any standards that anyone in the world of progressive metal may be held to, and it becomes by the end of just the second that not only is The Ocean Collective not fucking around for a single minute here but they’re not leaving any stone unturned. For the absolute entirety of this work, these musicians really rolled up their sleeves, sat down with a purpose, and delivered an album that’s infectious, a literal trip through millions of years, and just a damn good listen that is hard to put down in so many ways. “Mesozoic | Cenozoic” provides us a glorious insight to the past of the world while giving us a glimpse into the future of what progressive metal can produce, and if it’s even half as good as what we’re given here then I’m all in! The Ocean Collective has yet again given us an album that is spectacular from top to bottom, and any person who considers themselves any sort of fan of this style will only be committing a capital offense upon everything that is good in this world.

Progressive metal is always an up and down style in my experience, but there are very few bands that constant highs the likes of which we always get from The Ocean Collective and this work is far from different. Everything about “Mesozoic | Cenozoic” exudes mastery and next-level understanding the likes of which we only get on occasion, and that makes instances like this supremely delicious.

“Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic | Cenozoic” releases on September 25th via Metal Blade!

PRE-ORDER “Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic | Cenozoic” via multiple sources here.

LISTEN to singles from “Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic | Cenozoic” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE The Ocean Collective on Facebook here.