Elder (band)

i was a little put off when they sent a stream rather than a d/l ... but i'll get over it (and buy the LP) :)

i don't have time to really type out thoughts on this, but per this band getting a break, getting good pub, snatched up by a label, putting stuff out thru Armageddon, etc. ... i have my suspicions that they have a pretty atypical view of all that stuff (i.e. the business of being in a band).

i interviewed Nick once but didn't talk to him about it. if i ever get another chance, i'd ask him.

http://www.stereogum.com/1939557/elder-the-falling-veil/premiere/?amp=1

DiSalvo!

from: https://beholdtheelder.bandcamp.com/album/reflections-of-a-floating-world

Europe/World: www.stickman-records.com/shop/elder-reflections-of-a-floating-world/

North America: Bandcamp is a bully and won't allow us to link directly to another store. Please find the Armageddon Label bigcartel website with a google search. Thanks for nothin, bandcamp.

Who even knows what the new one is,
Some
Other kind of music

Staving off truth

(Acoustic interludes)

My apologies for the above...

These guise are just my heroes

new album is out and fuckin rips

Would love it if they brought somewhat under appreciated Boston area band Magic Circle on their next US tour -- two very different approaches to doom.

― Fastnbulbous, Wednesday, May 3, 2017 6:58 AM (four weeks ago)

yus. two of my favorite american bands of the now, and i haven't seen either play live. where elder are concerned, i'm somewhat surprised by my own enthusiasm, as i'm not generally a fan of jam-oriented psychedelic rock. they keep their noodles trim & let the riffs do most of the talking, which helps. then again, i find myself loving all them witches, too, so maybe i'm just in jam band denial.

the cover art of the new album is very "Sacred Bones"

Have loved these guys since Dead Roots, new is another grade 1 smasher

I am intrigued - do I need their first two releases, or do they suddenly get a whole lot better with Lore, the two-song EP, and the new one?

You need Dead Roots. I can't count how many times I've spun that LP

Dead Roots Stirring is still my favourite they've done tbh, title song is a major jam

dead roots stirring and lore are both essential imo. havent heard the new one yet

i mean who is better than this band, heavy/hard-rock-wise? good lord, they're monstrous.

I think they hit their stride on the Spires Burn / Release EP and have been on an upward spiral since then

Not to diminish their early stuff, but they've come a long way

Bought Lore, Spires Burn/Release, and Reflections of a Floating World on Bandcamp. Maybe I'll spring for the first two later.

i agree w/ calstars, there's a pretty huge leap between Dead Roots Stirring and Lore, imo ... which is more a reflection of Lore's quality than DRS

Kinda into this now

Their 2009 debut isn't chopped liver either. Yeah it's more traditional stoner/doom, but it's fun. I've been lucky enough to see Elder four times now. The first, around 2012, was the loudest. I just jammed in the earplugs and let the sub-bass massage everything down to my hair follicles. I think they go for a more balanced volume level now that they're a bit more intricate. They're touring all over Europe this summer then back in the U.S. in the fall.

No one is better at their particular style. I do kind of think of Wo Fat as their cousins in Texas with more of a swamp/blues element, and an occasional nod to Bitches Brew fusion. After not properly touring the U.S. for their entire existence (again, they're more appreciated in Europe), I'm excited to finally see them in a couple weeks.

I banged out a review late one night.

okay wow yeah these guys rip... can tell they'd be pummeling live

i've already said this upthread but their set at Psycho Las Vegas last year was literally a jaw-dropping, stupid-grin-making kind of thing. i was absolutely blown away.

These guys have me revisiting Ancestors, who I hadn't listened to in quite a while (their last album is in 2012). Apparently they're currently recording a new one.

(she sells) sanctuary

\m/

bless this album

"Thousand Hands" is fight my geration's "lonely is the word"

Watching the sunset with E. what could beat this?

Sorry for the psychedelic intrusions : )

Sorry to interrupt the hosannas, but I don't know, this seems a bit same-y to me. Now I admit I've only listened to it once so far, but I think the songs on Lore had already started to differentiate themselves a bit more after one listen. It's super-pleasant and accomplished and all, but it seems like they've foregrounded the sonic wallpaper aspects this time around in place of memorable hooks. Hopefully further listening will change my mind.

52 answers w/o a troll
Guesss that's ok

Sorry, of course everyone's entitled to their own opinion

I wouldn't call that trolling. It's a fair complaint, and when not in the proper mood, I've had similar reservations about both Lore and Reflections. Elder build fascinating sonic journeys out of riffs, shifting textures and melodic fragments, but immediately memorable hooks are scarce. Not absent - more like sneaky. Can see why some might grow bored waiting for the point to arrive.

that's funny, earlier today i was thinking about how immediate i found this record compared to its proggy psychy metal peers

this album

"blind" is the sequel to "snowblind". holy shit

Love this band! I actually interviewed Nick a few weeks ago and he was a super interesting dude.

http://clrvynt.com/elder-interview/

my god this album

I think staving off truth is the highlight

wow, there are a lot of great riffs on this. "The Falling Veil" especially.

830 or so in Blind is tops

"staving off the truth"!

yes.

I've listened to Staving Off Truth so many times I've hardly heard the rest of the album yet. When it kicks back in after the long chill part in the middle I just, like, gaze over the canyons and dwell upon my many adventures as a wandering barbarian.

Carry on then

yep that track is

Put this on my year-end list for The Wire.

on first listen the last two tracks really stand out. definitely listening to this a bunch.

overall this feels more propulsive than the last one. the mood is less earthbound and more playing in the sky. more sections featuring fast, flashy runs and switch-ups. skyward synth arpeggios. the end of track 4 and then the last track are more somber. it's really fucking good imo. gonna be my workout records for the rest of the year.

this rocks, giving me some much needed pep lately.

Damn this band is so consistently great, loving this new one.

high five

They're playing the Modified Ghost festival in Vancouver with Yob and Khemmis, plus other bands.

Tempting!

catching up on the new one, this is fantastic

Don’t sleep on the Eldovar album either from 2021

https://i.imgur.com/CguFpEK.jpeg

seeing them tomorrow, very excited

hope they play something from gold and silver sessions

the best live band seriously

https://delving-music.bandcamp.com/album/all-paths-diverge

New album

Elder proper is releasing a three-track live album next week; two of the three tracks are in the 15-minute range:

https://beholdtheelder.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-bbc-maida-vale-studios

That delving album reminds me a lot of the Gold & Silver sessions. I like it a lot on first listen.

He plays so many notes

it's an elder saturday

Lure 10 yr anniv tour

delving playing here in a tiny venue next weekend, not really checked them out properly yet

https://i.ibb.co/6mSwZQD/IMG-1028.jpg

https://open.spotify.com/track/67AZNXrPU17SmpTHVh1xQP?si=F9KfgXA1Q1eTBTxrOG6wlw

I can’t believe this is 13 years old

they have a new ep out and it's gorgeous.

Is the EP all we're getting or is this in advance of a full-length?

New album in May, from Stickman:

Elder‘s new album Through Zero will be released on May 29th, 2026.

Two decades into their existence, Elder remain an anomaly in the heavy underground – a band with the ability to absorb and shed influences from a myriad of genres without falling into pastiche or losing their identity. Their new album Through Zero is a reaffirmation of a commitment to pushing boundaries and cements their status as leaders in heavy psychedelic rock.

Elder has long since mastered crushing riffs, melodic jaunts, progressive patterns, hypnotic grooves and ethereal atmospherics. Through Zero is their most immediate record to date, allowing seeds from outside the sphere of rock to take root and bloom within their progressive framework. Listeners will find new textures, sequences and sounds woven into Elder‘s endlessly bombastic take on heavy rock.

Look out for music and presale details in the coming weeks.

"sigil to ruin" might be their best opening song so far?

This new one is starting to sink in after about three listens.

shit i missed hearing about this. playing now.

sigil to ruin is 🤩

Yeah, what a great opener. The song that inspired me to make that post was the title track. The first time I listened to the full album, I was kind of non-plussed. It doesn't help that a LOT of other exciting music released the same day it did. Elder always takes a while to sink in for me. I think probably the ultimate way to listen to them is with maybe just a touch of THC and some comfy headphones and no distractions. Maybe even one song at a time with breaks between.

Elder always takes a while to sink in for me

same here but this album was still a joy to listen on first listen - was away camping and was sat on a chair eyes-shut in the morning sun, blasting it on my headphones to shake off a hangover. glorious! look forward to properly getting to know it. Am seeing them again in a couple of weeks supporting Blood Incantation

camping is an a+ way to listen to a new elder album