Showing posts with label Elephant Tree. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elephant Tree. Show all posts

Thursday, 20 March 2025

Introducing Bear Bones: doom-infused blues featuring members of Elephant Tree, Limb, Swedish Death Candy, Black Moth and Morag Tong


Bear Bones was born from a whiskey-fueled jam session between Rob Hoey (Limb) and Pete Holland (Elephant Tree), riffing on old blues tunes deep into the night. When they stumbled upon Vanilla Fudge's 1967 debut album—packed with raw, soulful covers and a single original track—they found their blueprint. In true blues rock tradition, they set out to create something that felt just as authentic and unpolished.

The duo brought in heavy hitters from across the underground scene: Alex from Morag Tong, Marco from Swedish Death Candy, and Federica from Black Moth. As the sessions heated up at Bear Bites Horse Studios with the legendary Wayne Adams behind the board, more friends jumped in for the ride. Scott from Green Lung, Susie from Brume, and Jack from Stubb all laid down killer grooves, adding to the album's gritty, old-school vibe.

With Wayne capturing the raw energy of the room, the result was pure magic—a true jam session that oozes vintage blues rock soul. No gimmicks, no gloss. Just pure, unfiltered sound straight from the gut.

Bear Bones is a doom-infused blues supergroup rising from the underground, featuring members of Elephant Tree, Limb, Swedish Death Candy, Black Moth and Morag Tong. Steeped in the raw soul of the blues and the crushing weight of doom, their sound is both haunting and hypnotic—where fuzz-drenched riffs meet smoky, melancholic grooves. With guest appearances from members of Green Lung, Stubb, Brume, and more, Bear Bones is set to shake the foundations of heavy music. With a new album on the horizon, this is just the beginning. The blues has never been heavier—welcome to Bear Bones.

First single “Waitin' Around to Die" was written and originally performed by Townes Van Zandt. Listen now:


Bear Bones will be performing The Black Heart, London on Friday April 4th. There will also be guest appearances during their set.  Support comes from Sky Valley Mistress, Okay You Win and Blue Tree Monitor. 

Tickets: https://www.ourblackheart.com/events/2025/4/4/bear-bones

Socials:

https://bearbonesgang.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/bearbones_band/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574133934922


Thanks to For The Lost PR for details.

Monday, 21 October 2024

Elephant Tree / Lowrider - The Long Forever (Album Review)

Release Date: October 25th 2024. Record Label: Blues Funeral Recordings. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Elephant Tree / Lowrider - The Long Forever - Track Listing:

1. Lowrider - And The Horse You Rode In On

2. Lowrider - Caldera

3. Lowrider - Into The Grey

4. Lowrider - Through The Rift (feat. Elephant Tree)

5. Elephant Tree - Fucked In The Head

6. Elephant Tree - 4 For 2

7. Elephant Tree - Long Forever (feat. Lowrider)


Review


Stoner Metal TITANS Elephant Tree and Lowrider team up for this mighty fine and superbly heavy split album The Long Forever that sees both bands deliver their first new material in over four years. I’m going to say this is perhaps the best split album I’ve heard this decade and sees both bands at the height of their creative powers. Both bands are given the opportunity to play different styles of music that they’re known for whilst playing similar sounds they’ve both built their fearsome reputations with. 


Elephant Tree and Lowrider even make guest appearances on each other’s individual tracks with Elephant Tree appearing on Lowrider track Through The Rift and Lowrider appearing on Elephant Tree track Long Forever. 


Lowrider tracks are perhaps the more uplifting with a cosmic flow merging into a dominant Progressive Rock attitude with echoes of Post-Stoner grooves appearing throughout the uplifting lyrics with tales of hope amongst the gloomy surroundings of the modern day world which shine right through Caldera and Into The Grey. 


This split album allows both bands the time and opportunity to play the heaviest sounds of their careers with Lowrider moving into the Sludge Rock/Metal vortex and Elephant Tree playing a surprising Industrial based sound. 


Lowrider’s music shows signs of Sonic Exploration with some deft touches of Psychedelic and Doomed Out instrumental ambient based jams. The vocals have that soaring energy which made their 2020 comeback album Refractions such a classic and landmark release.


According to the PR Blurb, “The Long Forever" takes its title from the nickname Elephant Tree singer and guitarist Jack Townley gave to the multi-week coma he was kept in for medical reasons following a near-fatal biking accident in early 2023.


The standout tracks on the record are when both bands team up for an uplifting and emotionally engaging style for Lowrider track Through The Rift and the sound becoming more gloomier and quite realistic on the Elephant Tree track Long Forever. 


Elephant Tree’s side of the record surprised me the most. As you’re taken back by the Industrial charge they lead with Fucked In The Head which isn’t surprising with the terrible accident that Jack Townley experienced and it’s great to see him writing awesome music yet again. This is a different tone and vision from Elephant Tree compared to their 2020 album Habits. The decision from Elephant Tree to go further into the Industrial Rock landscape allows them to delve into heavier areas of Doom Metal which results in some outstanding and highly original slabs of Atmospheric Sludge of their own making on tracks 4 For 2 and Long Forever. 


Though, this doesn’t come at the expense of their classic blend of uplifting progressive themes which is still the main focus on the album. Lowrider appearing on Long Forever allows Elephant Tree to write some of the best music of their careers.


The Long Forever is a first rate album by two of the best bands the Doom/Stoner Metal scene has to offer. I’m hoping we have new albums from both bands in 2025 as The Long Forever proves why we need new music from Elephant Tree and Lowrider more than ever before. This is going to be considered a classic album in no time at all. That’s seriously how great this album really is. 


Words by Steve Howe


Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo. 


The Long Forever will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Blues Funeral Recordings from Friday 25th October 2024.


Elephant Tree links

Facebook ⎮ Bandcamp ⎮ Instagram ⎮ Spotify ⎮ Youtube

Lowrider links

Facebook ⎮ Bandcamp ⎮ Instagram ⎮ Spotify ⎮ Youtube

Thursday, 10 October 2024

European stoner rock pillars LOWRIDER and ELEPHANT TREE share new single off "The Long Forever" split album on Blues Funeral Recordings.


Swedish stoner rock pioneers LOWRIDER and UK psych-doom royalty ELEPHANT TREE share their new single "Through The Rift" on all streaming platforms today. Their widely anticipated collaborative album "The Long Forever" will be released on October 25th via Blues Funeral Recordings.

Elephant Tree and Lowrider's collaborative album "The Long Forever" is easily one of the most eagerly awaited split releases in heavy rock history. Arriving in the wake of their landmark 2020 releases, "The Long Forever" finds both bands at critical junctures: each has a broad and expanding influence, each is revered onstage and off, and each is about to deliver its first proper new music in four years to tremendous anticipation.

About the making of the song "Through The Rift", Lowrider frontman Peder Bergstrand recalls: “When Elephant Tree put their vocals on it, Jack sent me a text: ‘Singing on this reminds me of sitting on my mate’s shed in the sun when I was like 17. So hopeful and pretty'. It hit me right in the feels, because they just get it. That text, and this song, is exactly why we are doing this split album together. Through the Rift was written when I was falling in love with Elephant Tree and their last album 'Habits' at the height of the pandemic. It matched that time so well: calm and crushing at the same time, and endlessly emotional. Having since become friends and also having them sing backing vocals on it, is more full circle than I can describe with words”.

 Watch the official visualizer for "Through The Rift"  + listen to the song on all streaming services


"The Long Forever" takes its title from the nickname Elephant Tree singer and guitarist Jack Townley gave to the multi-week coma he was kept in for medical reasons following a near-fatal biking accident in early 2023. Dreaming without waking and losing all sense of time as his mind attempted to process and cope with the ordeal, that lyrical description can only hint at the enormity of Jack’s experience. And yet, the year or so that followed manifested a musical freedom in the bands’ respective approaches. Lowrider has grown more complex and expressive, while Elephant Tree has chosen a rawer, set-up-the-mics-and-go approach. "The Long Forever" is the vehicle through which the bands meet, subverting and superseding the expectations on them, with a traumatic nexus as the gravitational singularity around which the entire LP orbits, bending and shaping every note that escapes forth.

Stress, trauma, time, gravity, sound, joy, catharsis and texture all find a place across the record’s 43 minutes, but what resonates is the stridence with which Elephant Tree and Lowrider meet at the convergence of timelines and complement each other in evolving listeners’ ideas of who they are. In the end, perseverance, healing and stubbornness of passion are what made "The Long Forever" a reality. We invite fans to listen with open minds and love in their hearts...

Check out the latest singles "Long Forever" and "And The Horse You Rode In On"

ELEPHANT TREE & LOWRIDER "The Long Forever" 
Out October 25th on Blues Funeral Recordings (LP/CD/digital)


TRACKLIST:

1. Lowrider - And The Horse You Rode In On
2. Lowrider - Caldera
3. Lowrider - Into The Grey
4. Lowrider - Through The Rift (feat. Elephant Tree)
5. Elephant Tree - Fucked In The Head
6. Elephant Tree - 4 For 2
7. Elephant Tree - Long Forever (feat. Lowrider)

About Elephant Tree

Formed in London in 2023, Elephant Tree has spent the past decade delivering their heavy, melodic sound to audiences across the international scene with their 2016 self-titled album winning praise from critics and fans alike. Early 2019 saw the band enter The Church Studios to deliver their third album 'Habits' (2020) with engineer and producer Riley MacIntyre (The Horrors, Thurston Moore, Adele) at the helm — an ambitious, emotion-driven journey made of spacious yet heavy-as-ever soundscapes, a scintillating blur of prog, psych, and melodic heavy rock. 

2020 was, as foreseen by the clear-sighted, the year they bloomed out of best kept underground secret into a household name, making it to the top of year-end lists and making an appearance on BBC Radio 1’s Rock Show as well as reaching number 14 on the Official Charts Rock & Metal and number 25 on the Official Charts Indie lists. After a series of acclaimed festival performances across the UK and Europe, all band activities were unexpectedly put to a halt in the winter of 2022 after frontman and guitarist Jack Townley was severely injured in a bike accident. Elephant Tree is now set to release their anticipated split record with Lowrider on October 25th via Blues Funeral Recordings.

About Lowrider

As the preeminent band out of the gate in the late 90s post-Kyuss wake, Lowrider's debut EP and seminal album 'Ode to Io' were foundational slabs at the dawn of stoner rock. The swinging metal offshoot grew quickly into a worldwide phenomenon, with Lowrider established as one of its undeniable trailblazers. Following those early releases with a handful of compilation and soundtrack appearances and a period of relative inactivity, the band re-emerged at DesertFest Berlin in 2013. They've since blown minds at Hellfest, Keep it Low, DesertFest London and Belgium, Stoned from the Underground and Up in Smoke, and issued expanded remastered versions of their original records. 

All that was left was to give the world something new. Released in early 2020 through Blues Funeral Recordings, their long-awaited sophomore album 'Refractions' explodes with all the churning fuzz and expansive riff-heaviness for which the band are beloved, shot through with re-energized purpose and maturity. All throughout the year, "Refractions" has garnered high praise from international press, being awarded "Best Album of 2020" on Magnet Magazine, Metal Hammer's staff lists, The Obelisk, Doom Charts, as well as being featured on top of numerous end-of-year lists such as on Metal Injection, Rock & Folk Magazine, New Noise, Invisible Oranges and Guitar Part Magazine.

Elephant Tree links

Facebook ⎮ Bandcamp ⎮ Instagram ⎮ Spotify ⎮ Youtube

Lowrider links

Facebook ⎮ Bandcamp ⎮ Instagram ⎮ Spotify ⎮ Youtube

Blues Funeral Recordings links

Website ⎮ Facebook ⎮ Bandcamp ⎮ Instagram ⎮ Youtube


Thanks to Purple Sage PR for all of the info.

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.

Tuesday, 23 July 2024

ELEPHANT TREE and LOWRIDER to release "The Long Forever" split album on Blues Funeral Recordings this fall; preorders and first track available!


Blues Funeral Recordings unveil all details for the widely anticipated split album between London psychedelic doom pillars ELEPHANT TREE and Swedish stoner rock giants LOWRIDER, to be released worldwide on October 25th. Discover the first single with Elephant Tree's new video for "Long Forever"!

Like two timelines converging, Elephant Tree and Lowrider come together to present the collaborative album "The Long Forever", easily one of the most eagerly awaited split releases in the history of heavy rock.

Arriving in the wake of two landmark 2020 releases ("Habits" from Elephant Tree and "Refractions" from Lowrider), "The Long Forever" finds both bands at critical junctures: each has a broad and expanding influence, each is revered onstage and off, and each is delivering its first proper new release in four years to tremendous anticipation. Despite that pressure, Elephant Tree and Lowrider have seized the opportunity to redefine who they are and declare where their musical voyages will go next. Bringing these bands onto a shared collaborative platter would be an event regardless of the surrounding circumstances. As it is, though, the significance of this album is even greater.

Watch Elephant Tree's new video "Long Forever" + listen to the single on all streaming services


"The Long Forever" takes its title from the nickname Elephant Tree singer/guitarist Jack Townley gave to the multi-week coma he was kept in for medical reasons following a near-fatal biking accident in early 2023. Dreaming without waking and losing all sense of time as his mind attempted to process and cope with the ordeal, that lyrical description can only hint at the enormity of Jack’s experience.

And yet, the year or so that followed manifested a musical freedom in the bands’ respective approaches. Lowrider has grown more complex and expressive, while Elephant Tree has chosen a rawer, set-up-the-mics-and-go approach. "The Long Forever" is the vehicle through which the bands meet, subverting and superseding the expectations on them, with a traumatic nexus as the gravitational singularity around which the entire LP orbits, bending and shaping every note that escapes forth.

"This record is a huge moment for us as it marks our return to creating new music after my accident. This process was all about getting back into the room together, and the recording was just a small part of this track's journey out of the ether," says Jack Townley.

Stress, trauma, time, gravity, sound, joy, catharsis and texture all find a place across the record’s 43 minutes, but what resonates is the stridence with which Elephant Tree and Lowrider meet at the convergence of timelines and complement each other in evolving listeners’ ideas of who they are. In the end, perseverance, healing and stubbornness of passion are what made "The Long Forever" a reality. We invite fans to listen with open minds and love in their hearts.

“The Long Forever” will be issued on limited vinyl, classic vinyl, CD digipack and digital formats on October 25th following a highly limited release as part of the revered Blues Funeral Recordings PostWax series, with preorders available now.


ELEPHANT TREE & LOWRIDER "The Long Forever" split album
Out October 25th on Blues Funeral Recordings (LP/CD/digital)
Preorder on Bandcamp, Bluesfuneral.com and SPKR shop


TRACKLIST:
1. Lowrider - And The Horse You Rode In On
2. Lowrider - Caldera
3. Lowrider - Into The Grey
4. Lowrider - Through The Rift (feat. Elephant Tree)
5. Elephant Tree - Fucked In The Head
6. Elephant Tree - 4 For 2
7. Elephant Tree - Long Forever (feat. Lowrider)

About ELEPHANT TREE
Formed in London in 2023, Elephant Tree has spent the past decade delivering their heavy, melodic sound to audiences across the international scene with their 2016 self-titled album winning praise from critics and fans alike. Early 2019 saw the band enter The Church Studios to deliver their third album 'Habits' (2020) with engineer and producer Riley MacIntyre (The Horrors, Thurston Moore, Adele) at the helm — an ambitious, emotion-driven journey made of spacious yet heavy-as-ever soundscapes, a scintillating blur of prog, psych, and melodic heavy rock.
 2020 was, as foreseen by the clear-sighted, the year they bloomed out of best kept underground secret into a household name, making it to the top of year-end lists and making an appearance on BBC Radio 1’s Rock Show as well as reaching number 14 on the Official Charts Rock & Metal and number 25 on the Official Charts Indie lists. After a series of acclaimed festival performances across the UK and Europe, all band activities were unexpectedly put to a halt in the winter of 2022 after frontman and guitarist Jack Townley was severely injured in a bike accident. Elephant Tree is now set to release their anticipated split record with Lowrider on October 25th via Blues Funeral Recordings.

About LOWRIDER
As the preeminent band out of the gate in the late 90s post-Kyuss wake, Lowrider's debut EP and seminal album 'Ode to Io' were foundational slabs at the dawn of stoner rock. The swinging metal offshoot grew quickly into a worldwide phenomenon, with Lowrider established as one of its undeniable trailblazers. Following those early releases with a handful of compilation and soundtrack appearances and a period of relative inactivity, the band re-emerged at DesertFest Berlin in 2013. 
They've since blown minds at Hellfest, Keep it Low, DesertFest London and Belgium, Stoned from the Underground and Up in Smoke, and issued expanded remastered versions of their original records. All that was left was to give the world something new. Released in early 2020 through Blues Funeral Recordings, their long-awaited sophomore album 'Refractions' explodes with all the churning fuzz and expansive riff-heaviness for which the band are beloved, shot through with re-energized purpose and maturity. All throughout the year, "Refractions" has garnered high praise from international press, being awarded "Best Album of 2020" on Magnet Magazine, Metal Hammer's staff lists, The Obelisk, Doom Charts, as well as being featured on top of numerous end-of-year lists such as on Metal Injection, Rock & Folk Magazine, New Noise, Invisible Oranges or Guitar Part Magazine

ELEPHANT TREE links
Facebook ⎮ Bandcamp ⎮ Instagram ⎮ Spotify ⎮ Youtube
LOWRIDER links
Facebook ⎮ Bandcamp ⎮ Instagram ⎮ Spotify ⎮ Youtube

BLUES FUNERAL RECORDINGS links

Tuesday, 11 June 2024

ELEPHANT TREE Drop Video Single 'Try' & Celebrate Anniversary With 3 Releases Being Reissued via Magnetic Eye Records


ELEPHANT TREE are having a party and they're inviting everyone to hitch a ride and join in! September 2024 marks ten years since Magnetic Eye's release of the beloved British stoner doom quartet'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 landmark 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).

The third release entitled "Handful of Ten" is a new full-length containing brand-new tracks, demos, and b-sides, and includes two of the first new ELEPHANT TREE tracks in numerous years, recorded specifically for this compilation. All three albums have been scheduled for release on September 6, 2024. Pre-orders are available via http://lnk.spkr.media/elephant-tree-ten

As a first delicious taste from "Handful of Ten", the Londoners release the video single 'Try'.


"This was really a cathartic exercise in playing something a little different, written with an initial cast-away attitude after a few pints on a sweltering summer's day", guitarist and singer Jack Townley writes on behalf of the band. "We don't play faster songs often, let alone get space to add them to records. The subject matter is about someone conforming to try be a model citizen, not wanting to step out of line in fear of the repercussions. He tries his hardest to not express his alternate views while others around him conform and in the end it all boils over, leaving him feeling 'forever lost'."


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

For more info visit:


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 details.

Monday, 7 December 2020

Elephant Tree - Live At Day Of Doom (Album Review)


Release Date: 11th December 2020. Label. Magnetic Eye Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Live At Day Of Doom - Tracklisting

1. Aphotic Blues (Live)
2. Dawn (Live) 05:12
3. Wither (Live)
4. Surma (Live)
5. In Suffering (Live)
6. Attack of the Altaica (Live)
7. Circles (Live in-studio)


Review

UK Psych Doom/Stoner Rockers Elephant Tree made a mighty return to the scene with their 3rd full length album HABITS earlier this year. 4 years after their last acclaimed release and it was very much worth the wait seeing the musical direction the band ended upon with that acclaimed record.

Elephant Tree are back with their first Live Album with Day Of Doom Live which they performed last year from their previous label - Magnetic Eye Records back in 2019. The band flew out to Brooklyn, New York to perform at the legendary Saint Vitus venue with other bands on the Magnetic Eye Records roster. (Horsehunter, DOMKRAFT and Summoner are the other 3 Live Albums being released as well).

Magnetic Eye Records invited our four flagship bands to perform at our DAY OF DOOM label showcase, a once-in-a-lifetime gathering of our premier bands on the same stage.

Each performance was carefully captured to be issued as an exclusive live album to commemorate the event and the first decade in business of Magnetic Eye Records.


Elephant Tree play a stunning set made up of songs from their first two albums which were released on Magnetic Eye Records. So don’t be expecting any new songs from their latest album. Just the classics from Theia and their 2016 self-titled release. The band is in buoyant and on fine form from start to finish.

Elephant Tree play their well-known hits to an appreciative audience such as: Aphotic Blues, Dawn, Wither, Surma and Attack Of The Altaica being some of the best sounding and most energetic songs contained on the record.

Live At Day Of Doom does everything that all Live Albums do and makes you feel part of the action. The sound quality and production is excellent on this release. All of the 4 live albums being released by Magnetic Eye Records all sound stunning.

If you’re a fan of Elephant Tree then this is a must have release to add to your collection. If this is your first time listening to the band then it offers the most perfect opportunity to experience one of the best Doom/Stoner Metal bands the UK has to offer.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Magnetic Eye Records for the promo.

You can buy Elephant Tree - Day Of Doom Live - from Magnetic Eye Records from Dec 11th 2020 on CD/DD/Vinyl.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

Saturday, 18 April 2020

Elephant Tree - Habits (Album Review)


Release date: April 24th 2020. Label: Holy Roar Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Habits – Tracklisting

1.Wake.Repeat (Intro)
2.Sails
3.Faceless
4.Exit The Soul
5.The Fall Chorus
6.Bird
7.Wasted
8.Broken Nails

Members

Jack Townley - Guitar/Vocal
Peter Holland - Bass/Vocal
Sam Hart - Drums
Riley MacIntyre - Producer/Extra Instrumentation
John Slattery - Synth/Guitar
Nathan Hickey - Guitar

Review

Habits is the new album from Elephant Tree and their first new release in 4 years since they released their critically acclaimed 2nd self-titled album. Which has became a classic within the Doom/Stoner Metal scene in my own personal opinion. It certainly put these guys on the map and remains a favourite album of mine to this very day.

So does Habits match up to their last album. In a short answer – YES. It truly does. Habits is a more braver, bolder and experimental album that you wouldn’t expect from Elephant Tree, The band could have easily made a similar sounding record to their last album and nobody would blame them for doing this. However, this is a very different record with Elephant Tree playing a more experimental style of music with twisted elements of Drone, Noise Rock and heavy amounts of FUZZ being added to their already multi-layered sound.

Opening song – Wake,Repeat (Intro) – is a mixture of Ambient Noises spliced with Droned Out Sounds with a an eerie Psychedelic Gloomy Atmosphere that is quite dark in places but it’s an interesting style of music the band adapt on this song. It soon builds upto the next song and that’s where the real excitement starts…

Second song – Sails – is the perfect song for the band to show their new addictive and heavy sound with a song that flirts between Post-Punk gloominess and the heaviness of Psychedelic Sludge/Stoner Rock which reminds me of early-era Torche in places. Add a distorted Noise Rock environment for Elephant Tree to build their music upon and you have a song that’s quite surreal in places but one that has a dark and warm addictive glow to it all. The vocals are standout with a 90s Alternative Rock feel to them but still sounding quite grounded as well.

Third song – Faceless – is where Elephant Tree start to bring some of their trademark heavy grooves to the album and yet still manage to expand their own musical horizons with Psychedelic Doom/Drone guitars moving along at a wonderful slow pace. The overall feel of the album does sound different what has came before for it but it also sounds remarkably familiar as well. It’s very hard to describe as the heavy guitars channel superbly executed aggressive riffs that remind me of The Melvins in many ways.

Elephant Tree carry on creating their dark musical journey whilst offering many uplifting moments of high quality Sludge/Stoner Rock that you wouldn’t initially expect especially on the next two songs – Exit The Soul and The Fall Chorus.

The standout part of the album is the final songs of Bird, Wasted and Broken Nails which elevates Habits into Album Of The Year category for these 3 songs alone. This is where Elephant Tree prove why they are one of the most important bands within the UK Sludge/Doom/Stoner Rock scene alone. As the band merge highly emotional lyrics with deeply rich progressive sounds.

Bird is my favourite song on this album. As it embraces many different styles of music that it’s quite hard to define it at times and that’s down to the sheer creativity the band have included on this song and the whole album in general. Add a gorgeous sing-along chorus and you’ll be singing the words to this song for days.

Habits is a deeply rich and emotional experience that only Elephant Tree can deliver. I expect to see this album to be mentioned everywhere as one of the best albums of the year. It’s already in my Top 5 albums of 2020. That’s how fucking great this album genuinely is.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Hold Tight PR and Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Habits will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Holy Roar Records from April 24th 2020.

Links:


Friday, 24 January 2020

Elephant Tree Announce New Album Details For HABITS


London-based prog-psych-doom artisans ELEPHANT TREE have announced their highly-anticipated third album Habits, after four years of honing their sound on the international live circuit.

Released April 24th via Holy Roar Records, you can pre-order Habits here: http://smarturl.it/elephanttree

The band have also streamed their new single 'Sails'. View the video here:


The champions of the underground have delivered perhaps their most cohesive record yet, a scintillating blur of prog, stoner, psych, and melodic heavy rock. Opening on a hazy note of foreboding dread on 'Wake.Repeat (Intro)', the band explode into life soon after and rarely let up.

Every aspect of ELEPHANT TREE’s previously established sound has been amplified to 11 and fine-tuned to perfection. Their heavy, driving, grooves hold a more calculated rhythmic swing counterbalanced with leads that hold a soberingly clear gentleness. This is all tied together with vocals that possess a charming hedonism to their timbre, sure to win over legions more fans.

Elements of a heavy Pink Floyd, Melvins, and Deftones all combine with exhilarating effect, cementing the status of this group who have already sold tens of thousands of records and streams into the millions.

The union of sonic density and yearning is captured wonderfully, thanks in no small part to the band's production choice of The Church Studios, famed for the sounds of U2, Nick Cave, The Jesus and Mary Chain and Adele amongst others.

If the sound of Kyuss and Smashing Pumpkins partying with Hunter S. Thompson and Cult Of Luna in an arena sounds like a good time, then this is the album for you. If there's any justice, 2020 will be the year ELEPHANT TREE bloom out of best kept underground secret into a household name.


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