Release Date: September 23rd 2024. Record Label: Raging Planet. Format: CD/Digital/Vinyl
Light Codes - Track Listing:
1.The Bridge 07:58
2.True Passage into the void 06:09
3.Psychoid 07:54
4.Four levels of consciousness 05:43
5.Omega Point 06:00
6.Light Codes 02:56
7.Home 05:42
Members
Sara Antunes (vocals)
Sebastião Santos (drums)
Fernando Matias (bass)
Hermano Marques (guitar and vocals)
Review
Psychedelic Doomsters Earth Drive return with their fourth album Light Codes which continues their style of Spaced Out Heaviness that’s powered with a modern day Progressive Rock and Stoner based energy which has served them well within their previous albums. The music is perhaps more soulful and ethereal on Light Codes with Sara’s vocals leading with a 90’s Alt Rock/Grunge attitude which gives the album a deft emotional core within the lyrics and how the band deliver their music especially on the opening track The Bridge.
Earth Drive has some wonderfully subversive Ambient Noises and Psychedelic movements with the sludgy undercurrent propelling the band into heavier waters. The music can be quite GOTHIC sounding in places which comes into play within the stunning second track The Passage Into The Void without compromising their dominant Cosmic Doom/Stoner Metal spirit. There’s a deep spiritual connection hidden within the lyrics and the more opaque grunge attitude that becomes crystal clear when the song transforms into a more confident Alt Metal swagger.
The album does allow Earth Drive to delve into areas of Stadium Rock and Commercial Rock/Metal in places which is no bad thing especially when the mainstream style of music is giving a gloriously heavy 21st Century underground Doom/Stoner Rock makeover which the rest of the album aligns itself to on tracks such as Psychoid, Four Levels Of Consciousness, Omega Point and Home. This isn’t surprising from Earth Drive as they’ve always tried their hand incorporating different genres of music into their own creative identity on previous records. The main thing is that Earth Drive continues to excel at playing highly complex Progressive musical structures and highly melodic grooves that shine a light at how highly talented the band really is.
Lead vocalist Sara may be at the forefront of Earth Drive but she’s brilliantly supported by Sebastião on Drums, Fernando on Bass and Hermano on Guitar/Vocals who prove their worth with sublime instrumental and progressive musical passages throughout the album. With excellent production values being heard and felt from the very start, Light Codes is an absolutely stunning record that features some of the best music the band have written to date.
Earth Drive has the potential to become even more well known and play some of the most prestigious festivals and stages the Doom/Stoner Metal scene currently has to offer.
Words by Steve Howe
Links
www.earthdrive.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/earthdrivesound
www.youtube.com/@EarthDriveSound
www.instagram.com/earth.drive.sound
