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55,337 posts since 7/17/2002
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Posted on 1/12/2008 at 1:17:27 PM
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Elder – Self Titled Review by John Pegoraro (StonerRock.com) Self released Release date: 2007 I first heard Elder on their split with Queen Elephantine and they were easily the better of the two. The Fairhaven, Massachusetts band returns with this five song album, and it shows they're on their way to being something pretty fucking special. The album begins and ends with “Riddle of Steel.” The first version is full on Sleep worship and is absolutely massive. What's great about this track is that about three-quarters of the way through, they break from the lumbering avalanche of riffs with a spacey psychedelic section that's got more in common with bands like 35007 before slowly returning to the main groove. It's easily the best song on the album, although “White Walls,” with its seamless mix of Electric Wizard and Fu Manchu (seriously - one minute you're with the Wizard in Black and the next you're eating dust) comes close. Second track “Hexe” isn't that bad, but it's also not all that memorable. “Ghost Head” shows the band again melding two convergent s t y l es – this time doom and the staccato grooves of Helmet – but it doesn't pan out quite as well as “White Walls.” “Riddle of Steel (Part Two)” isn't so much a reprise of the first song as an alternate take on the central riff. Good stuff, but again it doesn't quite match up to the first version's power. Elder ultimately teeters on the edge between good and great. While the band wears its influences on its sleeve, Elder still manages to craft something unique and distinct. Definitely a band to watch.
URL: http://myspace.com/beholdtheelder
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I`m never going to work another day in my life
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74 posts since 1/31/2009
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Posted on 3/7/2009 at 8:15:44 AM
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Elder - ElderReview by JJ Koczan (StonerRock.com) MeteorCity Release date: Available now If you’re reading this, then chances are you know Sleep, you know their work and the staggering influence they’ve had on the anti-commercial stoner scene that has grown in the time since their breakup. Sleep’s Holy Mountain is undeniably one of the landmark records in the genre, and even the Dopesmoker/ Jerusalem audio megalith can be said to have sparked a host of followers. Young Massachusetts riff magicians Elder really, really like Sleep. So much so that vocalist/guitarist Nick DiSalvo not only looked to the seminal Californians for tonal and structural influence, but has one of the most spot-on Al Cisneros-esque vocal approaches to have popped up since. You can hear it when he declares “I am the witch” on “Hexe,” the second track of Elder’s self-titled MeteorCity debut, and pretty much the rest of the time as well. But whatever. Stoner rock is full of imitators. Hell, the whole genre was arguably founded on a desire to ape ‘70s masters Sabbath, Zeppelin, Blue Cheer, Captain Beyond, etc., so what makes Elder’s approach anything special? As mentioned above, they’re young. Very young. And their music sounds it. So while stoner rock is a genre rife with 30- and 35-year-old slowed down punk rockers riffing out, Elder’s relative youth gives the five extended tracks – songs under six minutes are for the weak – on their self-titled debut an urgency and hunger that is often missing from what’s considered pure stoner metal. Simply by being who they are they’ve done this, never mind the hugeness of the guitars, the fuzz of the bass or the crash of the drums. Of course, those things don’t hurt. So while they may not be breaking any new ground stylistically or lyrically – Conan the Barbarian, vague occultism, and so forth – Elder’s take on a sound already so familiar has an inherent originality. It’s new to them, so it’s new to you too. It might be the Sleep sound coming full circle, but whatever it is, it works. If you call yourself a fan of stoner metal and you miss them now, when you try to catch up later, it will already be too late. Like the president says: This is their moment. And they capture it powerfully on the record and encase it in stunning Adrian Dexter artwork. They could hardly be called original, but the earnestness and sincerity with which Elder pays homage to, well, their elders, is bolstered by an enviable innocence and honesty that flies in the face of an often cynical and falsely o b j e c tive popular mentality.
URL: http://www.myspace.com/beholdtheelder
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6,725 posts since 1/11/2005
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Posted on 1/13/2008 at 5:24:43 AM
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Considering these guys are fresh out of High School, this is just the beginning of really great stuff from them.
Had this album been released, it would have easily made my top 10 of 2007.
Do yourself a favour and check it out, and hound labels to release them!
Also, Arz is wrong about "Hexe" (a track I've known as 'Witch'). It's incredible.
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http://queenelephantine.clfrecords.com
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55,337 posts since 7/17/2002
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Posted on 1/13/2008 at 8:15:56 AM
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They're only in high school? Fuck me running.
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I`m never going to work another day in my life
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1,355 posts since 10/11/2002
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Posted on 1/13/2008 at 7:20:39 PM
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I've known about these guys for a while and been in contact with the band personally (They live about 10 minutes away from me, like my band yet.. our paths have never crossed) and I've always said that "It's amazing how good this band is for their age". I've actually sat back and thought about that statement and would like to retract it...
The fact of the matter is.. their age has nothing to do with it. Elder are a great band who do their s t y l e of music as well (if not better) than most bands in their genre.
I have to be honest here... I haven't really gotten into much drone doom lately. In fact I can't think of the last album in this genre I actually liked (with the exception of the last Reverend Bizarre album) and I most certainly can't name 5 that have came out this year that have been stellar.
Labels should really take note of these guys because I think with the right producer and one solid release they'll do some big things in this genre.
Again, this is coming from someone who is kind of down on the droning... These guys just write music that they enjoy playing and it shows.
Check em' out and I don't think you'll be dissapointed.
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http://www.myspace.com/planetgeminidoom
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1,652 posts since 2/25/2005
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Posted on 1/13/2008 at 10:38:31 PM
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I'm considering this for release. It all depends on the band themselves and if can sell some more copies of my current releases/distro items this year. Here's what irks me a little. Our disc has been out since before Halloween and I've seen very little mention of it even though review copies were sent in a timely manner. An unreleased disc ( which is basically a demo for all intents & purposes ) is getting raved about. It is good I won't deny that but I hafta look after my own y'know. It's always something.
URL: http://oppressivesound.com
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i`ve called all the numbers. none resulted in a "good time."
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55,337 posts since 7/17/2002
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Posted on 1/14/2008 at 6:33:26 AM
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I got the Satanic Bat CD in the same shipment as the Elder. It's in the pile. Quit yer bitchin and it may even get reviewed this week, unless I can't stand it and pawn it off on another writer, in which case it'll take maybe another week.
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I`m never going to work another day in my life
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1,355 posts since 10/11/2002
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Posted on 1/14/2008 at 6:14:52 PM
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Dude, Arz and crew have a lot of shit on their plate. Sometimes they take a while to get to the more indie stuff (I had material also released on Halloween that hasn't been reviewed yet.. but.. it'll get done eventually)..In all seriousness.. you should be thanking these guys for helping to advertise your product at all. It's not like they are raking in the money by doing this... it's all out of their love for the music.
Danno, Arz & Chrono (Who reviewed my last album without me even asking him).. Are all people doing this to HELP bands like yourself.. there are many band who want attention from a webpage like this.. and I can honestly say I don't think my band would be as well known if it wasn't for the help of Danno, Arz and Robwrong (old reviewer)... So in the future perhaps you should say "thank you" and be patient... and definitely don't hijack the review of a promising young band who really deserves the attention.
*TO GET THIS BACK ON THE TOPIC OF THE BAND*
I will agree with storm and say that the song Hexe is quite awesome. One thing I really like about this band is they do delve into the stoner genre at times... and.. well.. a lot of so called "true doom" bands (whatever that shit means) tend to snub their nose at the stoner sound and confine themselves to the drone.. and it just makes their music boring sometimes. These guys play what they want and I respect that.
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http://www.myspace.com/planetgeminidoom
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6,725 posts since 1/11/2005
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Posted on 1/14/2008 at 11:29:19 PM
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Hey hey we all have stuff waiting to be reviewed by Arz! I'm sure Mike didn't mean to bitch about it, he was just giving a friendly nudge.
Or perhaps it was more than friendly, I don't know.
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http://queenelephantine.clfrecords.com
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55,337 posts since 7/17/2002
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Posted on 1/15/2008 at 6:41:02 AM
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You're all in good company - I've got stuff by Relapse, Southern Lord, Translation Loss, and more awaiting review as well. At least count, around 200 albums total.
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I`m never going to work another day in my life
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7,578 posts since 9/16/2003
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Posted on 1/15/2008 at 12:18:06 PM
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Sounds good Arz.
(and 200+, sweet fancy moses! Best of luck with that...)
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I relate it all to condiments.
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1,355 posts since 10/11/2002
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Posted on 1/15/2008 at 5:18:41 PM
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Yeah no kidding... I wouldn't want to listen to 200 albums from bands I like.. nevermind a bunch of questionable stuff.
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http://www.myspace.com/planetgeminidoom
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55,337 posts since 7/17/2002
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Posted on 1/15/2008 at 5:26:34 PM
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Thank goodness I have the writing staff, eh?
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I`m never going to work another day in my life
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6,725 posts since 1/11/2005
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Posted on 1/15/2008 at 10:50:44 PM
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Oh man. Is it even at all fun to listen to any of this anymore?
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http://queenelephantine.clfrecords.com
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55,337 posts since 7/17/2002
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Posted on 1/16/2008 at 6:13:59 AM
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As this CD showed, occasionally it is.
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I`m never going to work another day in my life
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6,725 posts since 1/11/2005
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Posted on 11/1/2008 at 12:45:18 AM
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http://queenelephantine.clfrecords.com
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281 posts since 8/4/2007
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Posted on 11/6/2008 at 7:40:49 PM
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Fucking. SLAYS.
This DOOM most definitely requires an immediate gatefold vinyl release ... decent cd packaging tho
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Mankind aint so kind
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16,046 posts since 4/11/2002
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Posted on 11/13/2008 at 12:59:05 AM
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bump
I'm pretty floored by this release and I hadn't even heard of these guys til today.
Stoner Rooted Doom!
I definitely hear the Sleep influence in the vocal approach. Sleep meets The Sword, maybe?
I haven't even digested this thing yet. Hexe is a rad track.
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"LIGHTS OUT, MEATBALL!!!"
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602 posts since 4/5/2004
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Posted on 11/13/2008 at 1:14:59 AM
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aww man, dont spoil it for me, i ordered this on a whim last week and am eagerly awaiting it arriving with me in Oz, dont jinx it by comparing it the freakin Sword, Sleep yeah, everyone loves Sleep of course, the Sword though, jesus they're so lame...
;-)
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520 posts since 11/12/2008
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Posted on 11/13/2008 at 6:07:42 AM
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Hoping that...
1) I get to catch their set somewhere in this vicinity
2) This stellar debut from the mighty Elder gets released on vinyl
Currently ranking with other quality doom of late - Ancestors, The Wandering Midget, Black Pyramid, Apostle of Solitude, Blood Ceremony, Serpentcult...but Elder has barely left the player since arriving
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