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:
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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