Wednesday 14 August 2024

ELEPHANT TREE drop single 'Visions (The Planet of Doom)' from new compilation album "Handful of Ten"!


ELEPHANT TREE drop a second advance single from their new compilation album "Handful of Ten", which features brand-new tracks, demos, and b-sides. The Londoners release the track 'Visions (The Planet of Doom)'. Listen to the song here:


ELEPHANT TREE comment on 'Visions (Planet of Doom)': "This has been a long time coming for us", guitarist and singer Jack Townley writes on behalf of the band. "It really captures where we were as a band in between the self-titled and 'Habits' albums. It was a cool project to be a part of and it is a shame that the animated 'Planet of Doom' film for which the song was written has yet to see a release. It also features our good friend Ryan 'Biscuit' Gledhill, who provided those crushing vocals at the end. He acts all big and scary but really he is like a little fluffy cow."

September 2024 marks ten years since Magnetic Eye's release of beloved British stoner doom quartet ELEPHANT TREE's first album "Theia" (2014), and in observance of that milestone, the label is proud to showcase three releases celebrating one of the label's flagship bands:

"Theia" (Anniversary Edition) and "Habits" (2020) are presented as reissues without additional audio content, but in new physical formats. The former comes packaged with updated artwork and significantly expanded background content (see below for more details) and the latter has been out of print almost since the year of its release.

The third release entitled "Handful of Ten" is a new full-length containing rare material including two new ELEPHANT TREE tracks, the first in numerous years, recorded specifically for this compilation.

All three albums are scheduled for release on September 6, 2024. Pre-orders are available via http://lnk.spkr.media/elephant-tree-ten


Tracklist:

1. Attack of the Altaica (2013 Demo)
2. Visions (The Planet of Doom)
3. Try
4. Bird (2017 Demo)
5. Faceless (2017 Hurin Version)
6. Sunday

The seed for ELEPHANT TREE was planted in a rehearsal space somewhere in the smelly back alleys of England's sleepless capital of London in 2013. There, the first notes of what would become 'Attack of the Altaica' sprang from the bass of Jack Townley and Sam Hart's drums. Thus, it is fitting that this earliest demo became the opening track of the band's new rarities collection "Handful of Ten".

Soon the duo became a trio with the addition of bassist and vocalist Peter Holland, who had already established himself in the London scene with TRIPPY WICKED & THE COSMIC CHILDREN OF THE KNIGHT, allowing Townley to pick up the guitar again. With the addition of Canadian sitar player Riley MacIntyre, who also stepped in as a third singer, the band's classic first line-up was completed.

From there, things fell into place quickly. The infectious blend of warm, syrupy fuzz and soaring vocal harmonies on the demo 'Attack of the Altaica' captured the ears of Magnetic Eye Records. Soon a contract was signed and the debut full-length "Theia" was released in September 2014. ELEPHANT TREE had a lightning start and the debut album achieved an excellent reception by critics and fans alike. Now reissued as "Theia" (Anniversary Edition), the music of this milestone release is untouched, but the artwork has been given a refreshing inversion, and a wealth of rare photos, liner notes and lyrics have been added to provide a thorough look at the band's first decade since the original release.

These hardworking Englishmen did not rest on their laurels, and in 2015 followed up with the self-titled sophomore full-length "Elephant Tree". While "Theia" had opened the European continent for touring, their second album carried ELEPHANT TREE across the Atlantic to perform at the tastemaker Psycho Las Vegas.

In the meantime, John Slattery, who initially was added to give support as second guitarist and synth player for the band's live shows, joined ELEPHANT TREE as a permanent member. About the same time, Riley MacIntyre decided to draw back from the band to focus on production. ELEPHANT TREE also decided to try a label closer to home, a choice which ultimately did not work out as the new label ran into trouble and left the band's third and latest album "Habits" (2020) without the ongoing support it deserved.

During the turmoil of the global pandemic years, ELEPHANT TREE were affected and set back like everyone else. Jack Townley suffered a serious accident in early 2023, and the time needed for his recovery delayed the band again. Yet despite all of this, they put plans into motion for a return both to the stages and studio. Taking matters into their own hands, the band initiated a plan to self-release some of their material – with a little help from old friends. At long last, ELEPHANT TREE are reissuing the acclaimed "Habits" via Magnetic Eye to make it widely available once more and satisfy the continued demand.

Looking back at ten most exciting years, ELEPHANT TREE enthusiastically present 'Handful of Ten' containing great tunes pulled from their archive alongside the brash and blistering new tracks, ready to delight longtime followers and win over new friends to their unique brand of melodic doom: all thriller, no filler!

Current line-up:

Jack Townley - guitar, vocals, synths
Peter Holland - bass, vocals
John Slattery - guitar, synths, vocals
Sam Hart - percussion

Guest musician

Ryan Gledhill – vocals on 'Visions'

For more info visit:

Emma Näslund (GAUPA) – vocals on 'Death Perception'

Mastering of all tracks by Karl Daniel Lidén
Artwork & layout by Ieva Misiukonytė

Available formats "Handful of Ten"

"Handful of Ten" is available as digisleeve CD, as a solid white vinyl LP, and as a marbled black & violet vinyl LP.

Available format "Theia"

Theia" (Anniversary Edition) is available as 36-page hardcover CD-Artbook, and as a gatefold LP on marbled clear, white & transparent green vinyl.

Available formats "Habits"

"Habits" is available as digisleeve CD, and as a marbled orange & white vinyl LP.

Live:

13 SEP 2024 Sheffield (UK) The Corporation
14 SEP 2024 Southampton (UK) Abyssal Festival
15 SEP 2024 Bristol (UK) The Exchange
29 SEP 2024 Manchester (UK) Riffolution Festival
19 DEC 2024 London (UK) The Black Heart
20 DEC 2024 London (UK) The Black Heart

Thanks to All Noir PR and Magnetic Eye Records for all of the info.