Monday 16 July 2018

Ancestors - Suspended In Reflections (Album Review)


Release date: August 24th 2018. Label: Pelagic Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Suspended In Reflections – Tracklisting

1.Gone
2.Through a Window
3.Lying in the Grass
4.Into the Fall
5.Release
6.The Warm Glow

Members

Justin Maranga
Jason Watkins
Daniel Pouliot

Review

Ancestors return after a six year absence with their new album Suspended In Reflections. This version of Ancestors is very different to the band that released their debut a decade ago. Back then, Ancestors were a Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal band with a sound similar to bands such as Sleep and Mastodon.

Though with each passing record, Ancestors have changed and refined their sound to something more progressive and heartfelt. Ancestors of today follow the same path as YOB, Pink Floyd and Pallbearer. As the new album is a moody and progressive doom metal album with flourishes of Psychedelic Rock. The music can be extremely slow at times compared to their previous albums.

Opening song - Gone - is a very abstract and distant song with the band playing heavy slow-paced psychedelic doom rock passages. The song has an ambient and post rock sound holding everything together. The vocals feel inspired by Pallbearer but Ancestors do enough work to be judged on their own talents and convictions.

Second track - Through A Window - carries on the psychedelic and heartfelt vibe with ambient noises allowing Ancestors to extend their musical vision to a more cinematic approach. The music once again is deliberately slow-paced and the lyrics have a slight depressing feel. The song has an almost delicate sixties sounding Pink Floyd vibe. It's an interesting approach and one that I didn't expect.

Third track - Living In The Grass - has an interesting style of digitized vocals. It works for the most part but it would have been better if the band included actual vocals all the way through the song. The music is impressive as normal. The haunting piano track allows the album to create a more soulful post-rock sound though Ancestors still include elements of heavy doom based music.

The final three songs on the album Into The Fall, Release and The Warm Glow offer perhaps the most exciting parts and melodies contained within the album. As the album drifts from one different sound with each individual song. The highlight of these three songs has to be The Warm Glow. An epic Pink Floyd musical style odyssey mixed with the albums familiar Psychedelic Doom Metal sounds.

It's a shame that the album is too short running under thirty five minutes. Other than that minor complaint, Ancestors have released an album to become genuinely excited about. Has the album been worth the wait? Most definitely. Though It will take a few listens to become accustomed to Ancestors new sound. Overall, Suspended In Reflections is a highly engaging and superbly entertaining album that ranks as one of their best albums to date.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Daniel from CZ Promotions. Suspended In Reflections will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via PelagicRecords from August 24th 2018.