Release
date: July
17th
2020.
Label: Self
Released.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
River
Of Years
–
Tracklisting
1.Falling
Red
2.And
Then a Season
3.Night
Water
4.Vastation
5.Mira
(New Shoes)
6.Flood
and Light
7.Ripariana
Members
Dan
Brownson - bass guitar, Bass VI, upright bass
Derek
DeRoche - guitar, Korg M1, Yamaha VSS-30, organ
LiHe
Han - vocals, Korg M1, lyrics
Kuranes
- lead guitar
Patrick
Spain - drums
Review
Psychedelic
Doomgaze Rockers – Dustern – are a band that I hadn’t came
across before until I heard their upcoming new album River Of Years.
Dustern are a band heavily influenced by the sounds of Shoegaze, Doom
Metal, Electronica and Psychedelic Rock that all builds up to a
highly experimental and emotional sound. Dustern channel the sounds
of Tangerine Dream but give it a more Doom Metal/Shoegaze flavour
with a dreamy Progressive Rock vibe.
Opening
song – Falling Red – starts off promisingly with a Dustern
playing a classical style of Doomgaze that soon changes to a more
emotional blend of Psych Rock and 80s Gothic Pop sensibilities.
Things turn rather drastic when the lush sounding vocals are joined
by distorted growls and screams which come out of nowhere. Not
exactly Avant-Garde but still a more adventurous style of music that
I didn’t expect at all.
Second
song – And Then A Season – feels like a moody and more sinister
version of My Bloody Valentine with the Doomgaze guitars and
fantastic vocals joining forces for a true “Doom” based sound.
The atmosphere is quite raw but full of passionate moments that also
offer a more 80s theatrical gloomy experience. The heavy guitars
venture into standard Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal territory but it
fully works and Dustern feel in control of their own destiny on this
song.
Third
song – is perhaps the most emotional and shoegaze track on the
entire album and is built upon stunning vocals from LiHe Han, who
gives her all on this song. The guitars are superb with Dustern
playing a more deliberate slow-to-mid style of music that easily
ranks as one of the best songs on the album.
Fourth
song – Vastation – starts very slow where not a lot happens for
the first few moments apart from cool sounding guitars appearing with
a slight Alt-Rock/Americana/Psych Rock twinge to them. The song comes
alive more in the second half when the vocals and heavy guitars
appear for a more well-rounded and cinematic experience.
The
final 3 songs on the album – Mira (New Shoes), Flood And Light and Ripariana offer almost 20 minutes of music and this is where Dustern
pull out all the stops playing a spectacular style of Doomgaze and
emotionally driven mix of Prog Rock and Psychedelic Rock. The songs
move effortlessly from the different genres that Dustern play on this
album. The lyrics have a heartfelt soul to them which are brought to
life by another wonderful vocal performance from LiHe Han.
River
Of Years is most definitely a team effort with each band-member
bringing their “A” game to this record. This maybe not the most
easy “Doom Metal” album to listen to but it’s always good to
hear a band do something different and succeed on all levels. This
album is proof of that and Dustern have released an emotionally
complex and challenging album that dares to be different and become
even better for it.
Words
by Steve Howe
The
band has just released a music video for the song 'Night Water'
California band Dustern, founded in the Bay Area and featuring members of Mountaineer and Catapult The Dead, are leading up to the July 17 release of their second full-length, “River of Years,” with a video for the song “Night Water.” The video, conceived and put together by members of the band under coronavirus lockdown, showcases a trippy visual minimalism that complements the band’s musical pursuit of atmosphere, beauty, and weirdness.
“River of Years” is the follow-up to 2018’s “Ouden,” which experimented with mixing together elements of doom metal, shoegaze, and a variety of other influences. On the new album, Dustern has taken their eclecticism in a heavier direction, with a thicker overall sound, the addition of virtuosic lead guitarist Kuranes, and vocalist LiHe Han’s alternations between wispy dream pop melodies and beastly, unnerving screams. The album will be released on vinyl, CD, and streaming platforms. It will be available to purchase or stream from their Bandcamp page: https://dustern.bandcamp.com/
California band Dustern, founded in the Bay Area and featuring members of Mountaineer and Catapult The Dead, are leading up to the July 17 release of their second full-length, “River of Years,” with a video for the song “Night Water.” The video, conceived and put together by members of the band under coronavirus lockdown, showcases a trippy visual minimalism that complements the band’s musical pursuit of atmosphere, beauty, and weirdness.
“River of Years” is the follow-up to 2018’s “Ouden,” which experimented with mixing together elements of doom metal, shoegaze, and a variety of other influences. On the new album, Dustern has taken their eclecticism in a heavier direction, with a thicker overall sound, the addition of virtuosic lead guitarist Kuranes, and vocalist LiHe Han’s alternations between wispy dream pop melodies and beastly, unnerving screams. The album will be released on vinyl, CD, and streaming platforms. It will be available to purchase or stream from their Bandcamp page: https://dustern.bandcamp.com/
Thanks
to Dustern for the promo.
River Of Years
will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from July 17th 2020
Links:
Website: https://dustern.wordpress.com/
Bandcamp: https://dustern.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dusternband/
Bandcamp: https://dustern.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dusternband/
