Release
date: June
01st
2018. Label: Various.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Continuum
– Tracklisting
1.Into
The Abyss
2.Jupiter
3.Solar
Storm
4.Io
5.Surfacing
for Air
6.Interstellar
7.Orbiting
Jupiter
8.Return
Voyage
Members
Nick
Hannon (bass)
Marlon
King (guitars)
Blake
(electronics)
Stevie
B (drums)
Review
Sons
Of Alpha Centauri (SOAC) are a band that should rightly be bigger
than they actually are. The band have been together for over sixteen
years and have released one full length album and a ton of split
records with legendary Desert/Stoner Rock bands such as Karma To Burn
and Yawning Man. SOAC even formed a group with Yawning Man called
Yawning Sons. One of the best collaborations within the Desert/Stoner
Rock scene.
Now
SOAC return with their eagerly awaited second full length album -
Continuum. The album opens with - Into The Abyss - a stylish
Post-Rock/Ambient/Stoner Rock song that feels partially inspired by
John Carpenter theme music. As the electronic sounds could have
easily fitted into one of his classic movies. The mood and atmosphere
is very subtle with glimpses of heavy guitars threatening to break
through.
Second
track - Jupiter - has a gloomy sprawling post-rock atmosphere. The
song turns into a heavy Psychedelic blend of Stoner Rock/Post-Metal.
The mood is deliberately slow-paced but that allows the music to grow
and breathe more naturally. The ambient post-rock parts of the song
have quite a jazz based approach though it's the heavier sounds that
make SOAC's music truly stand out.
SOAC
carry on this style of Stoner Rock/Post-Metal hybrid sound on the
remainder of the album with songs such as: Solar Storm, lo and
Interstellar being some of the best songs on the album. Though the
standout track has to be the epic final song - Return Voyage - which
offers almost eleven minutes of finely tuned progressive
Post-Rock/Post-Metal vibes though merged with SOAC's trademark
Desert/Stoner Rock sound.
Some
people are wondering why have SOAC ventured into the realm of
Post-Rock/Post-Metal than their usual Stoner Rock sound. Well that
could be down to the person who recorded and produced this album.
Aaron Harris from legendary Sludge/Post-Metal collective - ISIS.
Aaron has brought a true Post-Rock/Post-Metal sensibility for SOAC's
new sound. I admire SOAC's creative choices on this album. As some of
their fans maybe think the album is too heavy for SOAC. However bands
need to progress and SOAC has made the perfect choice with releasing
this album. Though SOAC don’t forget their Stoner Rock roots on
this album As John McBain (ex-Monster Magnet) to master this album.
Continuum
is a brave and bold album that's very atmospheric and even gloomy in
parts. The album has its fair share of melodic parts but it's mostly
a genuinely exciting and heavy audio experience. Everything about
this album oozes class and it's perhaps my favourite SOAC record
they've released so far.
With
Yawning Man releasing a new album later this year. It's good to see
the "old-guard" of Desert/Stoner Rock coming back and
showing the younger generation of bands how to create a beautiful
sounding album that has thought and intelligence to match. The
instrumental work is wonderful throughout.
SOAC
have put a lot of thought into the overall structure of the album. As
everything flows beautifully together. Even there are no vocals;
Continuum has a superb storyline that ventures into the vast reaches
of Space. Continuum has the potential to be one of the best
Instrumental Rock/Metal albums released this year.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Tom at Polymath PR and Sons Of Alpha Centauri for the promo.
Continuum will be available to buy from the following records labels
listed below on June 1st 2018.
RobustfellowProds. (Ukraine), H42 Records (Germany), Cobraside Distribution Inc.(USA), Electric Valley Records (Italy), CODE 7 Distribution (UK)
Links:
