Release Date: November 22nd 2024. Record Label: Ripple Music. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
All Quiet On The Final Frontier - Track Listing:
1.Orbital Decay
2.All Quiet On The Final Frontier
3.The Experiment
4.Death Valley Ritual
5.The Weight Of A Feather
6.Ablaze In The Now
7.High Noon In Sword City 03:49
8.Down The Heavy Path
Members
Erik Palm – Guitars
Alex Risberg – Bass/Vocals
Alvin Risberg - Drums
Review
10,000 Years have made their glorious return, but it is not without changes. For starters the band recently signed to the beloved and legendary Ripple Music, that’s big news within the scene as well as for the band and label. Next up, having completed their Albatross trilogy, the band leave behind the conceptual ideas of the previous three albums instead moving forward on ‘All Quiet On The Final Frontier’ to focus on single tracks and fresh themes. 10,000 Years also has a new drummer, Alvin Risberg. Yes, he’s the brother of vocalist/bass guitarist Alex Risberg. Erik Palm who has been in the band since its inception returns on guitar, rounding out the lineup. The band are familiar with each other not only through family ties and 10,000 Years but the trio also released two EPs and an album under the name ‘Pike’ between 2008-2012, so they’re no strangers to one another.
After the short intro we’re cast into the title track ‘All Quiet On The Final Frontier’ which is a stoner rock track and different from what 10,000 Years are really known for. Even though they don’t stray too far from their established path it’s a welcomed entry of fuzziness and a sign of things to come. It’s a headbanger for sure, with an upbeat driven tempo with the drums being in the driver’s seat. ‘The Experiment’ continues the direction of stoner jams with the rhythm section just knocking it out of the park in a frenzied attack. I’ve always been a fan of Alex’s vocals, they are always a highlight for me, in addition to being a signature of 10,000 Years sound. They are powerfully belted out above the madness and are pretty much a fourth instrument within the band guiding the narrative.
‘Death Valley Ritual’ is a bass heavy track, being very prominent within the verses as they build up towards the full blazing blast of the choruses. When the vocals wail “I’ll live forever!” I can’t help but think fuckin’ Slayer! There’s a kickass drum solo followed by a sonically elevated lead guitar part before the song comes crashing back down to a charred earth. ‘The Weight Of A Feather’ really hits hard on the second half of the song, there’s a back and forth between a Mastodon sounding guitar melody and a stoner metal riff, with the latter being one of the heaviest on the album. It seems the weight of a feather can be quite massive under the right circumstances. An excerpt from the 1961 sci-fi film ‘The Phantom Planet’ plays towards the end as the double bass and heavy riff finish the track.
Most of the songs on ‘All Quiet On The Final Frontier’ float around the four minute mark, though those four minutes sure seem to go by fast. ‘Ablaze In The Now’ is the exception as it is just over six minutes, however it’s somewhat split in half as the first half of the track is contrastingly different than the second. While the first part is heavy, the second half that grabbed me is melodic and even adds a synthesizer to the mix, making for an interesting and spacey feel to the ending.
‘High Noon In Sword City’ is the first single that dates back to August when it was first released. To me it has a progressiveness to it, like a heavier Howling Giant with captivating guitar parts that latch onto your ear holes and meld with your consciousness. The chorus is commanding and has a heavy back end, while the lead guitar section is probably the best on the album. Down The Heavy Path’ seems as though it could have easily been on album ‘II’ or ‘III’ containing both stoner doom and stoner metal influences. The percussion is intriguing and engaging with the hi-hat and what sounds like a drum block. The Baroness like chorus leads to a midpoint time change and a serious head nodding riff, as a tolling bell fades out the album.
Though built upon the bedrock of the previous three albums, leaving behind the restraints of past concepts have opened the door for the band to expand their sound and style, as this is a great album with a more balanced approach and may be even more accessible to new fans. This plus the addition to Ripple Music’s roster can only mean more great things to come with a wider audience to the already global band. ‘All Quiet On The Final Frontier’ is a new frontier, a little lighter, a little brighter, but still full of 10,000 Years might.
Words by Jon McGough
Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.
All Quiet On The Final Frontier will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music from Friday 22nd November 2024.