The Ocean (a.k.a. The Ocean Collective) is a progressive metal band started in 2001 in Berlin, Germany by guitarist Robin Staps. However, the first stable line-up was formed only in 2009 during recording sessions of Heliocentric and Anthropocentric. As for 2013, 4 of 5 band members are from Switzerland, while its founder continues to live in Berlin. In addition, Chris Breuer, a touring bass player who also made a recording appearance on Pelagial, is a citizen of Berlin too. Breuer is touring member who is filling in for Louis Jucker (who has gone on hiatus due to his desire to finish university studies) for all shows in 2013, also has recorded some parts for band's 6th album "Pelagial" released in the same year. The Ocean was founded in 2001 by guitarist and songwriter Robin Staps. During the following two years, about 40 musicians joined and left the band until a stable line-up was established. July 2002 saw The Ocean play their first concert at Berlin's now defunct semi-legal Eimer Club. Shortly after, the band released their eponymous debut album featuring Islands/Tides, a 30-minute-long song that also constituted the substance of their early live shows. After a brief tour with Swedish crust punk outfit Coma in early 2003, the band signed to Make My Day Records, which then released Fogdiver, an EP consisting of five instrumental songs—despite the fact that on stage, at least two singers could be found. Unlike its predecessor, this recording received considerable acclaim from critics throughout a variety of genres. During winter and spring 2004, The Ocean recorded what was to become the material for their two following albums. The calmer and more atmospheric half of this recording session was released as Fluxion in August 2004; a joint effort of Make My Day and Throne Records. While the fact that the band now used vocals on their recordings seemed to make the music more accessible to some, it also caused many other critics to consider the album a step backwards in terms of innovation and originality. In interviews, the band would comment on this by pointing out the perceived closed-mindedness of some of the reviewers and their supposed inability to deal with the harshness and brutality the anti-Christian, anti-theistic vocals now added to The Ocean's sound. After signing to Metal Blade Records in summer 2005, all the remaining songs from the session were released as Aeolian. Since Fluxion and Aeolian had originally been planned as a double CD with a mellow and a brutal part — a plan that did not work out — Aeolian came across as very different from its predecessor. Unlike on previous albums, classical instruments and electronic sounds were hardly used here, making the record sound rather minimalistic. But whereas Fluxion had featured only one singer, seven of them could be found on Aeolian, among them Nate Newton, Sean Ingram, and Tomas Hallbom, whose names were also used extensively for the album's promotion campaign. According to the band, Meta's voice on Fluxion had created a monotony that was to be avoided on Aeolian. March 2006 saw the North American release of the album. Later that year, a joint vinyl version of Fluxion and Aeolian was released by Throne Records, featuring three records in different colors. Recently in late 2007, they released a new 2 disc album entitled Precambrian. In April 2008, The Ocean embarked on a year long tour through Europe and North America with bands like Intronaut, Opeth, and At The Gates. In April 2009 it was announced that primary Precambrian vocalist, and full time touring member Mike Pilat was leaving the band for personal reasons and other commitments. On November 17, 2009, Robin Staps announced that a replacement vocalist had been found, Loïc Rossetti. The Ocean released two albums in 2010, Heliocentric on April 9 and Anthropocentric on November 9. Taken together, the two albums "represent a fundamental and philosophical critique of Christianity," with Heliocentric describing the internal battles within the Catholic Church over the heliocentrism of Copernicus and Galileo, and Anthropocentric critiquing the fundamentalist Protestant view of Creationism. They announced that their first live DVD would be filmed on the 29 January 2011 in Berlin at the Museum für Musikinstrumente and will only contain tracks from their album Precambrian. On August 3, 2011, The Ocean announced via its Facebook page that Robin Staps had been working on new material for an upcoming album. They stated that recording would get under way in early 2012 and hinted at the possibility of releasing another double album. In a September 2012 article on the website MetalSucks, Robin stated that the new album was due for an April or May release in 2013 and would have very few if any vocals, but elaborated that Loïc remains the vocalist of the group despite the change in style. The band released Pelagial on April 29, 2013 in the United States. The CD version contained two discs - one has the songs with vocals, the other is purely instrumental. On October 20, 2013, the band announced the departure of guitarist Jonathan Nido and drummer Luc Hess. It was later announced that Paul Seidel of the band War From A Harlots Mouth would replace Hess after the current tour. Additionally on the 8th of December Robin Staps announced via the bands Facebook page that Australian Damian Murdoch would be the bands new guitarist.

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Dark, ominous, yet not completely hopeless, Downfall of Gaia's music is as uplifting as it is overwhelming. The aural peaks and valleys fill the often lengthy tracks with a rewarding listening experience. The quartet was founded in the middle of 2008 and, after a few member changes, ended up with their current lineup: Dominik Goncalves dos Reis, Peter Wolff, Anton Lisovoj, and Johannes Stoltenburg. The members of Downfall of Gaia reside in various cities throughout Germany. Their practice space, however, isn't in one of the common German fashion cities like Berlin or Hamburg, but in Hannover, a city many people connect to the Scorpions. Not to a sound that is reminiscent of an avalanche of black earth, boulders, and mud. Downfall of Gaia have developed their current sound over the course of several years. In their early days of existence, they could easily have been described as a crust band. During this "crustier" period, they released a split in 2008 with French band Kazan. A year later, they released a tour EP, and in 2010 Downfall of Gaia finally released their debut album "Epos" with the help of a few DIY-labels. When Downfall of Gaia is not in the rehearsal room or in the studio, they welcome life on the road and tour whenever and wherever they can. They have not only performed on countless stages in the German speaking countries, but also in countries like Italy, the UK, France, the Netherlands and in several cities in various countries in Eastern Europe. They have even made a trip across the Atlantic to the United States for a small, but intense tour. Downfall of Gaia's live intensity is unwavering, whether they are performing to ten guests in a club or in front of thousands of people at a festival. Downfall of Gaia's DIY attitude lead to their next release in 2011: a split-LP with Sweden's In the Hearts of Emperors on the Alerta Antfascista label. The album was also released by Moment of Collapse and Shove Records. The release displayed a massive step forward, both musically and lyrically. Though their origin was very crust-infused, the band has taken a much different approach to more recent material. Fast d-beat influenced songs have given way to longer, slower tunes. Recent material can be described as enormous creations that encroach upon the listener like a towering monolith. Their new sound draws elements from doom, black metal, downtempo, sludge, and dark hardcore. The end result is an aesthetic not lacking in majesty or depth. Downfall of Gaia has finished recording their newest collection of songs. The concept album, Suffocating in the Swarm of Cranes, was released in the second half of 2012. Their continued growth has raised the bar and expectations are very high for what is sure to be a massive, encumbering album for fans of all things progressive and heavy. When Downfall of Gaia were not rehearsing or recording, they love to go on tour ever, which is something they've done since their humble beginnings: often and anywhere. They have travelled through almost every European country and played in most US states in 2011, as well as in 2013. In 2012, they even went to Russia, enthusing fans in Moscow. In 2013 alone, the group performed more than 100 concerts. In 2014, they gigged with Toxic Holocaust, Black Tusk or Neurosis and appeared at cult open air Hellfest in France. Now in the same year, their excessive touring came to a halt to make time for their second release via Metal Blade. The band entered '79 Sound Studio in Cologne and started working on new material. The results were mixed at renowned Atomic Garden Studio in the San Francisco Bay Area and mastered in Portland, Oregon, at notorious Audiosiege Studio. Finally, the new masterpiece was completed and is ready to ravage eager listeners. Once again, the band has developed a concept. The album addresses mankind's most powerful enemy: time, which passes without mercy. Downfall of Gaia refrain from any calm moments, let alone pauses, and go full throttle immediately on Aeon Unveils the Thrones of Decay which is set to be released on November 7th/10th, 2014 in Europe and November 11th, 2014 in North America. Dominik Goncalves dos Reis - vocals, guitar Peter Wolff - vocals, guitar Anton Lisovoj - vocals, bass Michael Kadnar - drums

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Initially the brainchild of guitarist Pierre Carroz, the first idea of Herod came to life during his stay in Malmø, Sweden, back in 2006. In Sweden, Pierre found little else to do that to isolate himself in his empty studio apartment, and so he began putting together dark and depressing riffs with his baritone guitar on an old 4-track recorder, which he brought with him from Switzerland, inspired by the cold and desolate, Swedish climate. In 2011 back in Switzerland, Pierre then became acquainted with former Twisted- drummer Fabien Vodoz and A Fine Day to Exit-singer David Glassey, and the three would go on to form Herod and write the songs of, what would later become their devastatingly heavy debut record They Were None. The album was recorded in late 2012 with esteemed, Swiss producer Julien Fehlmann, who is also the man behind the sound of bands such as The Ocean, Coilguns and Unfold, and mastered by Svante Forsback, who is mostly known for his work with rock and metal mastodons Volbeat and Rammstein. They Were None is an album infused with downtuned and distorted mastery in the vein of The Chariot, Breach and Cult of Luna, and Herod makes no attempt to compromise what-so-ever with their blunt and upfront approach to heavy music. They Were None is available on all platforms on May 2nd 2014!

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