Saturday 29 December 2018

AVER - Orbis Majora (Album Review)


Release date: January 18th 2019. Label: Ripple Music. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Orbis Majora – Tracklisting

1. Feeding the Sun
2. Disorder
3. The Last Goat Out of Pompeii
4. Unanswered Prayers
5. Hemp Fandango

Members

Luke: Guitar
Jed: Bass
Henry: Drums
Burdt - Guitar/Vocals

Review

Aussie Psych Stoner Rockers AVER return with their new album Orbis Majora and it’s a decidedly different affair compared to their previous albums. As this album has a more progressive and experimental sound that I didn’t initially expect. The added use of different instruments such as violins and cello is a superb touch and gives AVER’s music much more depth than ever before.

The album does take some time to fully get going and for the heavy riffs to appear. AVER continue their progressive space rock journey they started almost eight years ago on their acclaimed debut album which had elements of Grunge, Psych and Hard Rock buried under the expansive rock/metal sound the band created even back then. AVER sound wonderfully different on Orbis Majora as they add a TOOL-esque progressive delivery to their music that still offers moments of pure psychedelic bliss.

Opening song – Feeding The Sun – is a ten minute plus epic which sees AVER play different aspects of Psychedelic Rock that ventures further into the Space/Stoner Rock spectrum. The song can be quite folk-orientated at times but that is a good thing as this allows the listener to fully appreciate AVER’s sound even more. The song almost loses its way towards the end but it’s the sheer size and scope of AVER’s music that makes this song an absolute delight to listen to. As you don’t know which musical direction AVER will take you next. Truth be told I don’t think they know either.

Second song – Disorder – opens with a more laid-back psychedelic sound that’s played quite casually. However this all builds upto to a thundering wall of seventies inspired Space/Stoner Rock goodness that’s quite dramatic and trippy in all the right places. The vocals from Burdt are superb and become louder and more passionate as the song reaches its natural and heavy progressive conclusion.

Third song – The Last Goat Out Of Pompeii – is a throwback to seventies prog-rock but with the added heavy modern Stoner Rock influences that AVER wisely bring to the table. This is one of the standout songs on the album with the Pink Floyd and TOOL influences shining through.

The final two songs – Unanswered Prayers and Hemp Fandango – offer almost twenty five minutes of the heaviest riffs contained on the album and sees AVER experiment with their sound even further and perhaps becoming more of a Heavy Space Rock sound than ever before. Hemp Fandango is perhaps the best song of the album as AVER become more confident and fully focused on creating a more comprehensive sound to immerse the listener with.

Overall, Orbis Majora is a wonderful and equally moving audio cinematic experience that will only enhance AVER’s reputation even further within the Psych/Stoner Rock scene.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Richard at Sheltered Life PR for the promo. Orbis Majora will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music from Jan 18th 2019.

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