It’s hard to believe that Elder have existed as a band for almost 15 years when it feels like only yesterday that they were a trio enjoying the success that ‘Dead Roots Stirring’ afforded them and making their debut at Roadburn. Fast forward to the present day and they’ve added an additional guitarist to their fold and are about to release their fifth full length album. Their sound has come a long way over the last decade, from distorting and expanding the boundaries of stoner rock to weaving psychedelic prog riffs that feel interdimensional; Elder have always pushed the envelope and latest offering ‘Omens’ is certainly no different.
Centre stage, as always, the guitars are a wild ride of monumental sounding riffs and trippy solos, and while the tone remains solidly in stoner/doom territory, the proggy time signatures add a cosmic energy that prevents any single song on this record from becoming a chore to listen to. The intricacies of the song writing involved with any Elder release is always impressive, however, on ‘Omens’ the quartet seem to have pushed themselves further, adding additional subtle nuances of ethereal synths and flourishes of percussion that hit at just the right moment to enhance the otherworldly atmosphere.
While it’s true that Elder are often lumped into the category of stoner rock, arguably one of the most boring trends of modern day metal music, don’t let that put you off – they are in a league entirely of their own, worlds apart from any of the other bands that falls into the same category. If this is a genre you’d usually avoid then prepare to fall in love. For long time listeners of Elder this is yet another foray into tectonic plate shifting rhythms and complex melodies that leave a long lasting impression.
(8/10 Angela Davey)
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