Release
date: Feb 26th 2016. Label: Svart Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Son
Of Earth And Sky – Tracklisting
01
Aeolian Dunes
02
Ages Move The Earth
03
Son Of Earth And Sky
04
The Warming Moon
05
The Flood Of Waters
Band
Members:
Merethe
Heggset
Andreas
Hagen
Martin
Sivertsen
Ole
Kristian Malmedal
Review:
An
intriguing and somehow ominous 2011 demo led to high expectations for
this Norwegian quartet's first album. When it was eventually
released, I remember one main criticism was that it was too
one-dimensional and slow. So how did High Priest of Saturn respond on
their follow-up?
By
maintaining their carefully crafted identity, that's how. But don't
be too hasty to judge, haters. You just don't know the band that well
yet. Hopefully they aren't going anywhere anytime soon, so you might
as well get used to them.
A
careful listen suggests the band's familiar range of tempo is more
dream-like than plodding, HPOS wrings every last drop of psychedelic
essence from their creative cloth.
'Son
of Earth and Sky' is an introspective album, the listener is carried
along on a magic carpet through long instrumental passages made
majestic through the use of Ole Kristian Malmedal's trademark organ. One
lazy comparison you tend to see thrown at this band is to the likes
of Blood Ceremony. Now, that's some pretty good company to keep but
the comparison is totally inept here. Ole Kristian never treats the organ
as a lead instrument, rather it's the smooth-running engine that powers the proverbial magic carpet on its psychedelic flight. While
the instrument was right up front on the demo, it's now relatively
subdued in the mix conjuring subliminal thoughts and moods.
If
you're new to the band and you're looking for a place to dive in,
look no further than the deep end grooves of "The Warming Moon"
as the standout track here. I can't help but feel the band has hit
it's stride here with their second full-length. High Priest of Saturn
will never be known as a savage band, they have found a particular
niche all their own of contemplative moonlight nights in ghostly
congress. 'Son of Earth and Sky' is a succubal massage but don't
expect to find any happy endings here.
Words
by LK Ultra
Thanks
to Svart Records for the promo. Son Of Earth And Sky will be
available to buy from Svart Records on CD/DD/Vinyl from Feb 26th
2016.
Links:
