The bands previous record LORE, saw
the band heading into a more melodic direction but with some great and shorter
songs. This album is basically 4 album sides, each with a different feeling and
vibe and tracks between 8 and 11mins in length. The band has also augmented
their sound with an 2nd guitar (Michael Risberg), pedal steel
(Michael Samos) and mellotron on a few tracks. The album side long Sanctuary starts things
off. A heavy Elder riff starts things off and then the mood starts to change
with some great guitar after the first vocal section. Quite a psychedelic
section with keys and guitar which leads back into the songs main riff. This
track has many changes and parts but is always interesting. Side 2 has two
tracks. The Falling Well starts slow and spacey and then kicks into a nice
melodic guitar line and the band lays down a groove and off we go. This track
reminds me of Motorpsycho at times. Later, some lush Mellotron is played (by
Nick?) as new melodic textures are created. Staving off Truth starts off slow
and beautiful with some keyboard textures and melodic guitar lines. Really nice
dual harmony guitars on this track, just as there were at the end of the last.
Cool lyrics on this track as well. I love the lines Jack lays down on the bass
in the spacey section. Another cool track. Side 3 and we are Blind. The mellotron and mellow keys that accompany
the echo vocals contrast with the heavy riffs that come out. Many cool melodic
harmony guitars, keyboards are to follow in this album side track that takes us
through many sections (how do they remember them all live??). Side 4 starts with an instrumental (all their
songs are practically instrumental!!) called Sonntag. It is quite hypnotic with
a very steady bass and drum groove and then some trippy guitar parts and pedal
steel. Unique track. Thousand Hands ends the record and is pretty spacey at
times with some drone keys and repeated guitar lines but what a nice build on
this one. The band is continuing to progress and move forward musically but
still sounding like Elder. They used to sound a lot like Colour Haze but remind
me of a more heavy version of Motorpsycho now! The new album is brilliant! A
very cool artwork with nice inner sleeves, and a lyrics sheet as well.
This is a site where I post reviews of CDs, DVDs, LPs, and concerts. I have been writing music reviews on and off since 1984. I ran a heavy metal fanzine from 1984-1988 called Metal Madness and have been a staff writer for Aural Innovations for many years. I have also contributed to Chrohinga Well (RIP), Bad Acid (RIP), Lowcut (RIP), Roadburn and a number of other zines as well. I recently moved to Portugal so please request the new address and do not send any music to Denmark anymore. Tak..
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