Precambrian

Berlin guitarist Robin Staps writes his band's music, then teaches it to a rotating cast-- 26 of whom played on this 2xCD album, which blends Neurosis' heaviness and Converge's angularity with atmospheric keys and strings.

Although they're best known as the Ocean, this Berlin, Germany, outfit's original name is perhaps more fitting -- the Ocean Collective -- as they are a hefty eight members strong.