From The Ages - III (EP Review)

Release Date: March 20th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

III - Tracklisting

1.Lucid 06:53
2.Bardo 25:07

Members:

Paul – Guitar
Dave – Drums
Greg – Bass

Review

Instrumental Psych/Stoner Rock unit From The Ages offer their third record imaginatively titled “III” and it’s a stunning two track EP lasting around thirty two minutes in length across two tracks called Lucid and Bardo. The EP is a sprawling and progressive mix of Psych, Stoner, Prog, Doom and other Cosmic based themes with a free-flowing and jazz-based narrative which has different time signatures that can be freakishly surreal which comes into full focus on the excellent opening track Lucid.

From The Ages seem to have gone under a creative metamorphosis for this record with “III” being quite drone based and more metallic energy compared to their previous two records. There’s a deft touch of amplified heaviness and freakish sludgy attitudes forming at the main crux of the opening track Lucid which is explored further with heavier Progressive dynamics on the final track of Bardo.

Bardo has a certain ethereal sound with distorted time loops and fractured grovoes which allows the “JAZZ” element of From The Ages music to solidify itself into heavier Doom Metal surroundings. The drumming from Dave provides the heartbeat for the band to generate their heavy sounds with tribal bass lines from Greg and Paul’s cosmic guitar holds everything together. The sound is quite FUZZ based for the majority of the track with a superb Post-Rock influence coming into play.

III is quite a powerful and highly melodic release with From The Ages allowing their music to grow at a natural pace which results into some outstanding instrumental passages that sees the overall effect of the EP moving further to the Post-Doom and Post-Stoner scene before the time is out.

From The Ages have released another superbly entertaining record which should hopefully give them further exposure within the underground Psych/Stoner Rock scene.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

From The Ages - II (Album Review)

Release Date: June 21st 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

II: Tracklisting

Harbinger

Maelstrom

Tenebrous

Epoch

Obsolescence

Providence

Review:

II is the new album from Portland, Oregon based Doom/Stoner Rock outfit From The Ages and it's mostly an instrumental album though with the band adding vocals only when they need this. The album has a very mellow start with the music slowly becoming more atmospheric with a heavier Sludgy identity starting to emerge from opening track Harbinger. The mood becomes ever more aggressive with From The Ages within Harbinger operating with a Black Sabbath/SLEEP delivery and influence within their music.  The song is slightly progressive with the vocals having a chant-like presence. 

The Psychedelic sounds are melodic with a hint of Post-Metal attitude starting to appear which gives their music a more vibrant feeling even with the DIY production values the album contains. The music is played at a slow-to-mid pace which suits their Post-Doom creative themes superbly well especially when a more Ambient/Post-Rock score appears with some SONIC experimentation on the later stages of the track. The final part of Harbinger sees From The Ages play a more aggressive and heavier sound which shows the band aren't afraid to add more VOLUME and WEIGHT to their style of music.

From The Ages play a faster style of music on the next batch of tracks with Maelstrom and Tenebrous firmly putting the band into the Doomed Out Stoner Metal arena with flashes of Prog Rock appearing yet again. The extended jams and sludgy grooves are plentiful with the album beginning to feel it was recorded live with minimal studio manipulation as the album has a subtle but highly rewarding production style that allows the album to have a more organic sound. Both tracks have a more Punk Rock energy to them with some memorable FREAKOUT moments of Psychedelic Stoner Metal having a classic 1970's Hard Rock attitude especially when the screeching guitars appear on Tenebrous.

The second half of the album continues with the screeching and sludgy sounding guitars which moves the album into harsher and distorted areas of Doom Metal and Stoner Metal but From The Ages always manage to include a softer approach to their music when the quieter moments appear. The sound can be chaotic, unpredictable and jagged but there's always a great riff never far behind to sweeten the deal with Epoch being a prime example of this.

The fifth song Obsolescence is my favourite track on the album as it's beautifully FREAKY with the Middle Eastern sounds and instrumental jams moving into areas of music perhaps best described as mellow and even experimental. As From The Ages moves from Post-Rock textures to Drone based visions for a song that left me wanting to hear more of this great style of music. And my prayers were answered with the final song Providence.

Providence opens with a semi acoustic style of Americana, Middle Eastern Sounds and Lo-fi and continues until the dying moments. It would have been good if From The Ages unleash one final burst of aggressive sounding Doom/Stoner Metal but the album ends on a quiet but ultimately satisfying finish.

II is quite an experimental album compared to other Instrumental Doom/Stoner Metal albums currently out there. Though, there's a ton of great sounds being played on this album which should find a suitable audience within the Doom/Stoner Metal underground scene.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp