Release
date: October 27th
2017. Label: RobustFellow Prods. Format: CD/DD
Searching
Low & High (2017 Reissue) – Tracklisting
1.Reefer
Happiness 05:48
2.Not
So Far 06:24
3.Hazy
Sublime 01:42
4.Twilight
High 05:46
5.Approaching
Stranger On The Electric Trail Of Dreams 02:29
6.No
Isolation 06:47
7.Before
The Morning Comes 06:26
8.Green
Song 16:49
9.Eternal
Elysium (Bonus Track) 13:53
10.The
Spiral Conclusion (Bonus Track) 06:58
Members
Yukito
Okazaki - guitar, vocal
Tana
Haugo - bass, vocal
Antonio
Ishikawa - drums
Review
Japanese
Psychedelic Doom Rock band - Eternal Elysium - may not have the same
international fame as Boris or Church Of Misery but they're still a
majorly important band for Japanese Psych, Stoner Rock and Doom Metal
music in general. They've released a wide range of different albums
over their twenty six year career. Their most famous and most
acclaimed album is perhaps their 2005 album and fourth overall.
Searching Low & High.
This
album showed the band exploring heavier and progressive sounds with
an equal focus on psychedelic rock as well. The album has been
released on CD and Vinyl over the years. You can buy copies of the
album on eBay and other websites for extortionate prices. Now the
album is being reissued via RobustFellow Prods and their first
release on their Robust Relics imprint.
What's
so different to this version of the album compared to the original?
Well the album has been digitally remastered and remixed by lead
guitarist/vocalist Yukito Okazaki for a fresher and more dynamic
sound. This version has two new tracks that were only featured on the
vinyl version. This is perhaps the most complete version of the album
that has been released to date.
I'm
going to do a brief review of this album. As it's my fave album from
Eternal Elysium.
Searching
Low & High shows a band creating their most definitive work. As
they explore different sounds such as Prog Rock and merge it with
their familiar trippy psych based Doom/Stoner Metal sound. Songs such
as Reefer Happiness, Not So Far, Twilight High, No Isolation and the
epic Green Song show Eternal Elysium's passion for creating a classic
sounding Stoner Metal album that has influences from bands such as
Black Sabbath, Blue Cheer, Cream and Grand Funk Railroad. The mood
can be extremely heavy at times though the band are wise enough to
experiment with their music. As there are moments where the band opt
for a more "Jam" driven style of Doom/Stoner Rock.
The
album still sounds remarkably fresh despite being released originally
twelve years ago. The two bonus tracks - Eternal Elysium and The
Spiral Conclusion - are a welcome addition to an already classic
album. I've heard rough versions of these songs on YouTube but never
have they sounded as good as this. As both of these tracks sound more
vibrant and even spaced out at times.
If
you're new to the world of Eternal Elysium then don't go expecting a
straight forward Doom/Stoner Metal album. As Searching Low & High
is anything but. This is an album that pulls a few surprises along
the way that you wouldn't expect. Some parts of the album have been
influenced by jazz style progressive beats and that allows the
Doom/Stoner Metal vibes to be more psychedelic.
Searching
Low & High can be considered a masterpiece of the genre. The
album deserves to be considered as such as it is such a different
sounding album now compared to the original. Now the album is
finally receiving the "deluxe" treatment that it richly
deserves.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to RobustFellow Prods for the promo. Searching Low & High is
available to buy now here.
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