The Ocean flows to us all the way from Germany and brings music that defies expectations and buries conventions. Since forming in 2000, they have consistently pushed the boundaries of what metal can be, incorporating elements of post-rock, classical music, and even spoken word. Led by the enigmatic frontman Loïc Rossetti, The Ocean's live shows are a visceral experience with a unique sense of magnitude. Whether you're looking to be buried under walls of sound or drift away to calm and intricate compositions, this is something you will resonate with as their music draws from both sides of the coin.

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

Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

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!

Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.