Earth: "Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light 1"
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 8:47 pm
PERSONALLY BIASED NON JOURNALISTIC ALBUM REVIEW TIME.
Earth used to be THE drone/doom metal band. Then they got a little stoner/fuzzy, now they are super slow grouchy post-rock.
I just received my 2xLP of angels from Southern Lord, the band's label. It has 3 sides of music, and one side is a big etching of the cover art. I got the red LPs, cause they other choice was black. Fuck that, thats not special! Anyway, I put it on, and listened through on my home stereo.
My first impression was, "Woah, that's murky." I guess that's a good word for the overall experience. The first two sides are pretty murky and swampy, with plodding drums and slowly evolving riffs, usually crystal clean. (Bonus points to earth: Telecasters. Fuyah!) I've never heard any band convey the sense of menace, and general "bad-ass-cowboy-ness" that they do. This is Earth's bag, being heavy without distortion.
Side Three is all the title track, and it really deserves it. If possible, it's even darker than the previous two sides. It's an improv, if I'm reading my interviews right, and it flows like mean molasses. You can totally feel the improv energy on this one, hearing the song being built before you. The last "movement" is a nice change. It's a lot of harmonic sounds, mostly hi mid and low hi timbres, and the drums drop out.
All in all, I think this would be a good "hanign' out" kind of record, especially if you like to smoke joints while you hang out. If you're into the mellower side of post rock, its a good listening album any time. I kind of wish it would "get up and kill" as I call it, but that's not my choice to make, it's Earth's. They never kick on the fuzz, they never crash the cymbals, they just ride that shit out, making the changes in timbre and melody, rather than the comfy LOUD quiet LOUD we are so used to.
B+ "slightly imperfect"
$20 + shipping from www.southernlord.com
IMPORTANT NOTES: Southern Lord is trying really hard to do it right. They sell package deals of records/shirts, CDs and shirts and posters and shit, they even have a digital store, so if you like, you can pay ten bucks for an MP3 album. But AFAIK, NONE of their goddamn LPs come with download coupons. So if you intend to listen to this at home and on the run, I would suggest the CD, unless you have the time and technology to transfer your vinyl to your computer.
Earth used to be THE drone/doom metal band. Then they got a little stoner/fuzzy, now they are super slow grouchy post-rock.
I just received my 2xLP of angels from Southern Lord, the band's label. It has 3 sides of music, and one side is a big etching of the cover art. I got the red LPs, cause they other choice was black. Fuck that, thats not special! Anyway, I put it on, and listened through on my home stereo.
My first impression was, "Woah, that's murky." I guess that's a good word for the overall experience. The first two sides are pretty murky and swampy, with plodding drums and slowly evolving riffs, usually crystal clean. (Bonus points to earth: Telecasters. Fuyah!) I've never heard any band convey the sense of menace, and general "bad-ass-cowboy-ness" that they do. This is Earth's bag, being heavy without distortion.
Side Three is all the title track, and it really deserves it. If possible, it's even darker than the previous two sides. It's an improv, if I'm reading my interviews right, and it flows like mean molasses. You can totally feel the improv energy on this one, hearing the song being built before you. The last "movement" is a nice change. It's a lot of harmonic sounds, mostly hi mid and low hi timbres, and the drums drop out.
All in all, I think this would be a good "hanign' out" kind of record, especially if you like to smoke joints while you hang out. If you're into the mellower side of post rock, its a good listening album any time. I kind of wish it would "get up and kill" as I call it, but that's not my choice to make, it's Earth's. They never kick on the fuzz, they never crash the cymbals, they just ride that shit out, making the changes in timbre and melody, rather than the comfy LOUD quiet LOUD we are so used to.
B+ "slightly imperfect"
$20 + shipping from www.southernlord.com
IMPORTANT NOTES: Southern Lord is trying really hard to do it right. They sell package deals of records/shirts, CDs and shirts and posters and shit, they even have a digital store, so if you like, you can pay ten bucks for an MP3 album. But AFAIK, NONE of their goddamn LPs come with download coupons. So if you intend to listen to this at home and on the run, I would suggest the CD, unless you have the time and technology to transfer your vinyl to your computer.
