The Ocean, Psychonaut, The Devil's Trade

The Ocean return to Romania for two concerts, in Bucharest and Brasov, alongside Psychonaut and The Devil's Trade. The well-known collective returns this time with a new lineup and a new record. The successful album Holocene, released in 2023, concludes with a grim vision of a dystopian landscape on Earth, exhausted and uninhabitable. The only option for survival is drastic action; one that marks a new era: the creation of new artificial worlds with Earth-like living conditions. Human intelligence forms the foundation of technological progress; however, this very progress inevitably leads to self-destruction. As rational beings, we are fundamentally just as capable of initiating our own extinction as we are of preventing it.

Since the release of Holocene, The Ocean itself has undergone radical changes, and the release of the new album Solaris marks the beginning of a new era for the band. Solaris introduces new vocalists Lane Shi and Enrico Tiberi, along with guitarists Emmanuel Jessua and Marco Gennaro, who join founding guitarist Robin Staps, bassist Mattias Hägerstrand, and drummer Jordi Farré. Each brings their own unique flair to bring the nearly 70-minute work to life, marking a new high point for The Ocean in terms of narrative ambition and scale.

Solaris is the name of an intelligent ocean from the film of the same name by Andrey Tarkovsky, combining dystopian sci-fi storytelling with existential reflection inspired by the journals and records of real-life explorers. By analyzing historical documents related to explorers such as Da Gama, Magellan, and Sir Frances Drake, Solaris draws parallels between the cosmic explorations in Tarkovsky’s film, the explorative nature of artists and current political leaders, posing questions to those of us who are seekers; what is the psychological cost of being so motivated? What do we leave behind in the quest for answers? At what point does the exploration of new territories become the domination of them for our own gain?

Psychonaut has long defied compositional mastery, captivating narrative depth, and overwhelming live presence as a band currently at the forefront of contemporary heavy music, with a vision for the future. After sending shockwaves through the post-metal/prog scenes with their debut album, which was re-released thrice on Pelagic Records, titled Unfold The God Man in 2020, followed by the transformative metaphysical complexities of the album Violate Consensus Reality in 2022, Psychonaut has performed at renowned Belgian festivals such as Alcatraz, Rock Herk, and Boomtown Festival, as well as boutique events like Soulcrusher, Roadburn Redux, and A Colossal Weekend, sharing the stage in Europe with artists like Amenra, Brutus, and their label mates Pelagic, The Ocean and PG.Lost.

The seed of World Maker took shape just as the campaign for Violate Consensus Reality was wrapping up, coinciding with the news that guitarist/vocalist Stefan De Graef was about to become a father. This life-axis tilt led De Graef, like most soon-to-be-fathers, to reevaluate what was truly important. Consequently, the music that he was inspired to compose seemed free from the former philosophical and spiritual foundations of the band, taking instead the shape of life lessons for his unborn son, a legacy of love in case anything ever happens.

The Devil’s Trade, the solo project of Hungarian singer-songwriter Makó Dávid, has built a remarkable international career—being one of the few Hungarian bands with over ten European tours to their name. The project has played major stages such as Roadburn, Brutal Assault, Hellfest, and Desert Fest, sharing the bill with heavyweights of post-metal like Alcest, Amenra, and Der Weg Einer Freiheit. Their fifth studio album, Nincs Szennyezetlen Szép ('There is no untainted beauty'), was released in November 2025 through the prestigious German label Pelagic Records (home to The Ocean, Mono, God Is An Astronaut and Whores).

The acoustic, alternative folk roots of Makó’s band have deepened over the albums while increasingly encroaching on post-metal territory. The 2023 release of the album Vidékek Vannak Idebenn marked a pivotal shift, featuring full arrangements for a band, created alongside his long-time collaborator Binder Gáspár (Cudi Purci Booking, Corbata Production, Choke City, Prosectura, Stereochrist, HAW, Torn From Earth, Dog Attack). Nincs Szennyezetlen Szép takes this journey further, becoming the darkest, most complex and intense work of the project to date—born from two weeks marked by a death and a birth.

Access for children under 14 is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Children aged between 14 and 18 must have a valid ticket and be accompanied by a parent. Original proof of identity is a mandatory condition. Table reservations in advance can be made by sending a message via WhatsApp to the number 0770 800 497 no later than 19:00 the day before the event. Please provide a name and the exact number of people. The cost of an advance reservation is 70 lei per person (table seat) for which you receive a consumable card, a cost that is paid at the entrance when collecting the card. A deposit of 10 lei/card is payable for the issuance of the consumable card, which is refunded upon return of the card. The card is used exclusively on the event night and is picked up at the entrance to the club in the access area. Purchasing a ticket does not guarantee a table.