Release
date: August 18th
2019. Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD
Tree
Lore –
Tracklisting
1.
Errrggghh
2.
Fly Through Space
3.
Ragnarok
4.
Cosmic Wizard
5.
Live And Learn
6.
Tree Lore
Members
Kie
de-Courci – guitars, synths, programming & vocals
Tim
Stokes - bass guitar and vocals
Ciaran
Crowley – drums percussion and vocals
Graeme
– synths, keyboards, programming and bubbles
Review
Straight
out the sprawling metropolis of Bromley, Kent in England, Spirits Of
The Earth come from a mould of Hawkwind, Monster Magnet, Motörhead,
stoner rock and a serious case of out-there headfuckery. The band are
a brand new acquaintance to me and I couldn't be happier, because I
really like what I hear. Since I didn't know what to expect when
listening to their new album, 'Tree Lore', I believe that helped
keeping my senses more perceptive to the six songs on offer. And
that's perfect, if so, because this a fantastic recording. Prior to
the introduction to these guys all I knew of and about Bromley was
that authors H.G. Wells, W.E. Johns and Enid Blyton were born there,
while more notable former and current residents are Poly Styrene,
Siouxsie Sioux, Billy Idol and Aleister Crowley...and Bromley FC! And
now, this alien concoction called Spirits Of The Earth are honed in
on world domination which will put Bromley even more on the map.
How
can you go wrong by opening an album with an instrumental brain
melter called ‘Errrggghhh’? Easy, you can’t! Of course, not, it
was a trick question. Spirits Of The Earth unleashes their sonic
attack from the word go and they never let off until ‘Tree Lore’
is over. True, there are slower segments here and there, but overall
these guys simply destroys molecules and atoms, only to create new
exciting worlds. Next up is ‘Fly Through Space’ and it is
punkish/ Motörheadesque in approach with seriously spaced out
electronica exploding all around in the soundscape. It becomes
hypnotic as the heavy riffs are played on repeat with the thunderous
drums and bass guitar crushing my head. Wonderful, people, absolutely
wonderful! ‘Ragnarok’ drops a lot of the electronica but
continues the relentless full-on assault. About halfway through, they
slow down and turn kind of trippy for a while, only to reignite and
completely annihilate everything in sight.
‘Cosmic
Wizard’ is next and holy skullduggery, this amalgamation of lead
heavy, skull crushing metal and some seriously trippy electronic
space rock/ electronica is a mind opener if there ever was one.
Coming at me at 200mph there’s no stopping Spirits Of The Earth,
and why would I want to stop them? Fantastic! ‘Live And Learn’
picks it right up and after travelling through an exploding super
nova, the band takes me on a tumultuous, yet cathartic mind fuck with
this beast of a song. Closing out this brilliant album with the
instrumental title track, it starts of almost like an electronic
dance song before a trance-inducing riff and the earth-shattering
rumble of the bass guitar leads the way. And this is how it plays
out, meditative, mind-expanding and absolutely wonderful. Definitely
the slowest song but probably the best, which says a lot since this
is one truly amazing recording.
In
a world oversaturated by so much – too much? – music, great bands
are often overlooked giving the crappy stuff all the attention.
Therefore, I am so thankful Spirits Of The Earth was sent my way,
because my world so much better because of it. I mean, these guys are
phenomenal and dear readers, you should take heed. Music this great
needs to be out there!
Words
by Håkan Nyman
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