With four core members operating behind pseudonyms and animal-themed face masks, the collective released two eclectic and vastly different recordings for specialty screamo label Equal Vision Records in 2005 and 2006, garnering a small but significant cult following for their jazzy, avant-garde blend of screamo and progressive rock.

The Nightingale (Balling), Walrus (Matt Embree, Rx Bandits), Lynx (Chris Tsagakis, Rx Bandits) and Skunk (Anthony Green, Circa Survive) were joined by various members of the tight-knit U.S. post-hardcore scene on each of the two releases, with bands such as Finch, The Autumns, Chiodos and Days Away represented.

After an album, an EP and a run of just four live shows, The Sound Of Animals Fighting was put to bed and its members went back to their day bands. Now, out of nowhere, three years later comes The Ocean And The Sun - announced mere months before its release.

Signed to major label Epitaph for their final foray, TSOAF return to the formula of Tiger & The Duke, with just the four core members receiving credit on the album (with one guest appearance from The Wolf), and a return to the less chaotic, more conventional structure of their debut EP. The avant-garde influence of Lover, The Lord Has Left Us... subtley found its way onto The Ocean And The Sun, especially in the form of short passages of Sanskrit spoken word, but overall the album has a far more focussed sound than its predecessor.

It's nearly impossible to describe TSOAF's sound in relation to other bands, save for Anthony Green's distinctive vocals. The album spans dirty electronic rock, free jazz, ska, punk, screamo and even traditional Middle-Eastern music. The result is surprisingly cohesive when paired with Balling's masterful sense of pop music structure and melody. Controlled chaos.

The influence each member has on the finished package has been re-configured slightly too, with Balling taking on far more vocal lines than he has in the past, and Matt Embree stepping up to the microphone to sing lead on "Blessings Be Yours Mister V", giving the track a distinct flavour of latter Rx Bandits.

Anthony Green is at his absolute best as a vocalist, but if you're not already a fan of his sharp, high-pitched squeak, you will not be swayed by The Ocean And The Sun. For existing fans, though, he's able to stretch himself far further than he ever could in his full-time role as Circa Survive's frontman.

This album will likely please fans of the Coheed And Cambria / The Mars Volta / Circa Survive school of progressive music (essentially, any band a little bit nuts with high, occasionally-screeching vocals), but since TSOAF have laid off the crazy pills for this release in comparison to Lover, The Lord Has Left Us..., mainstream rock music fans will probably get something out of it as well.

The Ocean And The Sun is out Australia-wide through Epitaph/Shock.