German post-metal collective The Ocean premiere new single and music video »Ultima Esperanza«; »Solaris« LP out September 25th via Pelagic Records!
Berlin, Germany based post-metal collective The Ocean premiere new single and music video »Ultima Esperanza« taken from their forthcoming full-length album, »Solaris«, set to release on September 25th, 2026 via Pelagic Records.
Tracklist:
01. 52°30’11” N, 13°26’12″ E
02. Departure Song
03. Light Pollution
04. Simulacra
05. Belligerence
06. Ultima Esperanza
07. Milk Of My Dreams
08. 51°28’30” S, 73°6’11” W
Courtesy of Hold Tight PR:
Berlin-based post-metal band The Ocean have released »Ultima Esperanza«, the latest preview of their forthcoming 12th studio album, »Solaris«, due September 25th via Pelagic Records.
»Ultima Esperanza« is the first half of the 20-minute closing piece of »Solaris«, The Ocean‘s 12th studio album – one that honors the band’s 25-year legacy while infusing it with a fresh sense of relevance and immediacy.
»Ultima Esperanza« (Spanish for “last hope”) is the name of the southernmost province on the South American continent, named after the inlet known as Última Esperanza Sound. The inlet was given its name by Spanish navigator Juan Ladrillero in 1557, who hoped it would offer a passage to the Strait of Magellan. Instead, it leads to a glacier – and ultimately, a dead end.
Photo credit: Jiawei Zhang
The band comments: “»Ultima Esperanza« explores the intrinsically human notion of hope as the driving force behind all explorative endeavours, and loss thereof. It is a reflection on mental resilience, tracing the different stages of losing hope and the mind’s remarkable tendency to keep projecting it even onto the most dire realities, as an instinctive means of survival.”
»Solaris« combines the narrative of Andrey Tarkowsky’s 1972 film of the same name with existential contemplation inspired by the journals and records of real-life Earthian explorers. By poring over the historic documents related to explorers such as Da Gama, Magellan, and Sir Frances Drake, »Solaris« draws parallels between the cosmic explorations of Tarkovsky’s film, the explorative nature of artists and current-day political leaders.
Once again, the Berlin-based post metal collective has joined forces with film maker Craig Murray for a breathtaking, visceral music video. »Ultima Esperanza« could be interpreted as a prequel to the first single and music video »Light Pollution«.
Featuring members from six different countries in the core line up, The Ocean returns to its collective formation and is able to draw on the experiences and talents of a pool of extraordinary musicians. The Ocean’s signature atmospheric post-metal is embellished by the adventurous spirit of their new members, as well as the impressive contribution of Thorsten Quaeschning of Tangerine Dream on keys.
The bigger part of the album was tracked at the legendary Hansa Studios, Berlin, where David Bowie’s »Low« and »Heroes«, Iggy Pop’s »Lust For Life« and Depeche Mode’s »Construction Time Again« were recorded. Within the studio walls, »Solaris« became a living, breathing testament to the power of exploration and teamwork. With new vocalist Tiberi being a virtuous piano player and multi-instrumentalist, the analog tones of the celesta, grand piano, Rhodes and Hammond became an integral and idiosyncratic component of the »Solaris« sound.
The »Solaris« album artwork is a collaborative effort by German artist Phillip Janta (Metallica, Queens Of The Stone Age, Envy) whose distinctive, highly detailed line work is instantly recognizable, and Norwegian artist Martin Kvamme who is the graphic designer behind most of Mike Patton’s numerous projects. The deluxe version of the album will be accompanied by a hardcover, fabric-wrapped book with copper hot foil print, printed inner sleeves, a 32 pages book, seven art prints by Phillip Janta as well as a customized, retro-futuristic star constellation finder.
When it comes to album packaging, The Ocean have always gone to the limits of what is physically possible, and »Solaris« is no exception. In the age of streaming and thumbnail-sized album art, »Solaris« – with its sharp focus on physical formats – stands as an absolute statement album.
»Solaris« will be released via Pelagic Records on September 25th. Pre-order HERE.
The Ocean line-up:
Robin Staps – Guitar, Vocals
Mattias Hägerstrand – Bass
Jordi Farré – Drums, Percussion
Enrico Tiberi – Vocals, Keys
Lane Shi – Vocals
Emmanuel Jessua – Guitar
Marco Gennaro – Guitar
In addition, the following musicians performed on this record:
Thorsten Quaeschning – Keys
Orestis Zafiriou – Keys
Simen Eifring – Trombone
Jiawei Zhang – Vibraphone
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well