Tuesday 20 June 2017

Elder - Reflections Of A Floating World (Album Review)


Release date: June 02nd 2017. Label: Stickman Records (EU) and Armageddon Label (US). Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Reflections Of A Floating World – Tracklisting

1. Sanctuary
2. The Falling Veil
3. Staving Off Truth
4. Blind
5. Sonntag
6. Thousand Hands

Band Members:

Nicholas DiSalvo - Guitar, keys, vocals
Jack Donovan - Bass
Matt Couto - Drums
Michael Risberg - Guitar
Michael Samos - Pedal steel


Review

This is it, folks. No if, but or maybe. Elder's brand new album, 'Reflections Of A Floating World', is it! A force from their inception, the band has finally created something truly unique...Elder Music. Kick me if you please if my statement sounds corny but hell, listen to 'Reflections Of A Floating World' and you know I am right. Elder has done something unheard of, they've created a genre only for themselves and their growing following of devotees.

There’s no beating around the bush as ‘Sanctuary’ wraps its tentacles around me. Flying around in erupting supernovas, star showers and the birth of new galaxies, Elder ejects the listener into a realm which brings peace of mind. Despite some truly skull crushing moments! But that serves as an important purpose since you have to be broken down in order to rebuild. And I feel completely at ease as to where the band is taking me and how. My mind expands and absorbs a whole new way of being and thinking. Mind blowing, people, mind blowing! And it continues with aplomb in ‘The Falling Veil’. Transcendent, expansive and mind-altering the song slowly caresses until all hooks are in. The trippiness opens up even more but with more twists and turns. ‘Staving Off Truth’ is bone crushing, racing through galaxies only to step off the grid forging new paths, new ways of being. Amazing guitar solo, by the way.

‘Blind’ is reflective, sombre especially in the lyrically department. Going full tilt at first, the mood and tempo changes back and forth bringing out emotions perfectly. Oh, that explosive solo! ‘Sonntag’ is hypnotic, almost claustrophobic at first but as soon as the drums joins in, everything is copacetic. Still trance-inducing the groove and repetition releases ant tension I have…as I dance, leap, back flips, you name it! And that’s while driving, people. ‘Thousand Hands’ closes out this one-of-a-kind piece of mastery as Elder unleashes some amazing progressive pulverizing destruction music.

And this is how ‘Reflections Of A Floating World’ plays out. To me each composition tells its own individual story, yet at the same time, when bundled together, they create a broader story. And this is another side to Elder’s greatness. After all, it takes enormous talent to write songs this multi-faceted and with such ease. Honestly, I am not surprised about what Elder has created having followed their progress through the years. Still, ‘Reflections Of A Floating World’ floored me and caught me unaware and I, for one, am more than fine with that. I mean, things doesn’t get any better than this. Over and out….I’m going to lose myself in the wonderful world of Elder!

Words by Håkan Nyman

Thanks to Nick from Stickman Records for the promo. Reflections Of A Floating World is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl now from Stickman Records (EU) and Armageddon Label (US).

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