18.11.2015 Earth - Primitive And Deadly - The Metal ObserverThe Metal Observer

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Bands: 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z by country | by style | by reviewer

Tracklist:1. Torn By The Fox OfThe Crescent Moon

2. There Is A SerpentComing

3. From The ZodiacalLight

4. Even Hell Has ItsHeroes

5. Rooks Across TheGate

6. Badger's Bane

Genre: Atmospheric Doom /Psychedelic FolkLabel: Southern LordRecordingsPlaying Time: 59:44Country: U.S.AYear: 2014Website: Visit page

Earth - Primitive And Deadly - (10/10)Published on September 1, 2014

Ouroborous unbroken. Legendary harbingers of doom, Olympia’s slowest moving sons Earth have not shied away from reinventing theirsound. Approaching the 25-year anniversary of his band, Dylan Carlson has smashed amps with Kurt Cobain,rocked out in the style of demons, and invented a signature brand of tumbleweed-drone. In later years Earth havebecome known for their western-noir blend of menacing deserts of sound, last heard on the meditative Angels OfDarkness, Demons Of Light-albums. Although solid in concept and execution, the last ten years there have beenwhispers of Earth being caught in a perpetual ouroborous, balancing on the brink of repetition. 

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18.11.2015 Earth - Primitive And Deadly - The Metal ObserverThe Metal Observer

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 Primitive And Deadly was recorded in the desert at Joshua Tree

  Since 2005’s ponderous masterpiece HEX, Earth have slowly been honing their atmospheric post-drone formula.With Primitive And Deadly the wheel finally turns again. For the first time since 1996’s Pentastar, Carlson stepsaway from the purely instrumental approach. Featuring the talents of singer-songwriter Mark Lanegan and RoseWindows’ vocalist Rabia Shaheen Qazi, the somewhat monotonous songwriting of the band’s last few effortsevolves into a more traditional rock-structure. Carlson’s trademark guitar provides a solid foundation, backed bylong-time percussionist Adrienne Davies’ steady beat and newcomer Bill Herzog’s (Sunn O))), Jesse Sykes & TheSweet Hereafter) throbbing bass. Immediately engaging, “Torn By The Fox Of The Crescent Moon” is an aggressive and surprisingly blunt openingtrack. A menacing bassline takes us to a familiar nighttime prairie, but with a rock and roll energy that is rare inthe Earth-canon. It’s heavy – remarkably so – and a mammoth re-envisioning of Carlson’s gloomy world. Followingthe crushing opening, “There Is A Serpent Coming” sees Lanegan lending his lyrical work as well as his broodingvoice. The creeping darkness bears traces of HEX, but with a subtlety that is the product of years of refiningtheir sound. 

 Next, “From The Zodiacal Light” is graced by the soulful pipes of Rabia Shaheen Qazi. A lethargic acid-rocknumber, the melodies are reminiscent of the sunbaked grooves that pervaded The Bees Made Honey In TheLion’s Skull. Rather than a retreading of old paths, however, Qazi’s contribution elevates the music tounprecedented levels of opiate bliss. Earth are keeping one eye on the past, simultaneously striding forwards withunbridled confidence.

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 Bringing in guitarists Jodie Cox and Brett Nelson, Primitive And Deadly shreds some of the minimalism ofCarlson’s signature sound. The result is dense with lush layers and textures, making even the instrumental tracksstand out in their own ways. “Even Hell Has Its Heroes” features a lengthy solo that would not feel out of placeon Neil Young’s Dead Man-soundtrack, complete with electric folk freakout. It’s another way for Earth to step outof their own shadow, and in a sense it feels like their last few albums have all been building up to this catharticemanation of dark psychedelic folk. 

 “Rooks Across The Gate” is Lanegan’s second contribution, and more than anything else feels like a continuationof the dark motifs from Angels Of Darkness. Once again, the addition of Lanegan’s crooning vocals gives theplodding song a soulful edge. Sorrowful and eerie, “Rooks…” takes Earth to new emotional depths. It provides abrilliant ending to an extraordinary album, with dreamlike qualities to carry the listener to some other world. The vinyl version of Primitive And Deadly features the bonus 12-minute track “Badger’s Bane”. Moreconventionally droning than the rest of the album, the song feels a lot like a b-side or an abandoned recording,lacking the emotional resonance of the album as a whole. Whereas the other songs here are headed in uncharteddirections, “Badger’s Bane” feels typically Earth anno 2005-2012. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but as awhole it unnecessarily drags the album out and feels redundant, even as a bonus track. With Primitive And Deadly, Earth complete a cycle that began with the brooding dark western sounds of HEX. Apastiche of past sounds is reinvigorated by new experimentation, to awe-inspiring results. For fans who feel thatthe Angels Of Darkness-albums started to wear thin; this is the Earth-album you have been waiting for. It’s earlyto say, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see Primitive And Deadly stand as Earth’s absolute masterpiece. Suffice tosay, it feels like the accumulation of a sound 25 years and eight albums in the making.  

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Author: Ailo RavnaRaised in the cold wasteland of northern Norway, Ailo has a penchant for cheesy movies and nebulous music. Asidefrom penning the occasional pretentious review, he is a part-time student and a full-time bastard. He lives in a tinyapartment and has no pets.

Earth - From The Zodiacal Light

This entry was posted in Featured Review, Reviews and tagged doom metal, drone, Drone Doom, DylanCarlson, earth, featured, Mark Lanegan, Neil Young, om, Primitive And Deadly, psychedelic, psychedelicfolk, Southern Lord, southern rock, stoner metal, Sunn O))), Teeth Of Lions Rule The Divine.

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2 Comments Sort by

Dieter Zinsser · Works at Bundeswehrsaugut DieterLike · Reply · May 15, 2015 9:23am

Luis Pedro CoutinhoGood quality and I've never been an fan of Earth I liked this music.Like · Reply · Sep 8, 2014 1:53am

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