Earth - The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull

Earth
The Bees Made Honey In The Lion’s Skull
(02.2008, Southern Lord)
Verdict = Dusty, Doomy, Sluggish Instrumentals

Time to delve into the hype. Earth has been around almost as long as I have been alive scorching the way for the recently peaking doom metal scene. It seems that with their pedigree it is high time for some the band to be in the spotlight. Following suit with Wooly Mammal’s recent review of last year’s Hibernaculum, I decided to take on the newest beast from the burgeoning psych doom juggernauts. I don’t think it will be surprising to those who have already heard the record, but my initial reaction was confusing. After a 9-minute-plus opening track of recycling instrumental desert rock that moved at the pace of drugged brontosaurus (which I am going to assume is very slow) I was starting to feel a little slow myself. First of all, this is not doom metal. Obviously through 20 years of evolution the band is a bit beyond that. It still is kind of doomy though. There is a kick of dustiness that is at work in the cogs here. The album is essentially the crackle of said dust rotating infinitely to the repetitive riffs and aimless fills that accompany them ad infinitum. These are long, plodding songs that drift into the horizon with little evolution and no climax. As I’m sure the description will assert the tracks are not for everyone, but there is something in these ostensibly senseless Americana exorcisms that begins surface like bubbling oil; something almost transcendent. It is hard to put a finger on and it is even harder to convince anyone else of but it’s there. The question you will have to ask yourself is whether it is worth the journey.

-Mr. Thistle

Earth on Myspace

Earth - Hibernaculum

Earth
Hibernaculum
(03. 2007, Southern Lord)
Verdict: So slow, but so rockin'!

I'm starting to think I've played way to many RPG's in my young life. Drone metal legends, Earth, released Hibernaculum in 2007 as a slow and steady paced instrumental epic full of repetitive chord progressions and slow build ups that sometimes don't really build to anything beyond what was there in the first place. And for some reason whenever my ears have the pleasure to get lost in these gems I can't help but think of a level 23 Dragon Masters going face to face with mysterious baddies bent on world domination and princess swiping, or maybe a Level 31 Cleric raising a fallen comrade who has just been hewn down by an ogre. I'm guessing comparing Earth to video games will not really give anyone bearings on what to expect from this album. So basically just expect way epic, dark, devastating, beautiful stoner jams that make the perfect soundtrack to dragon slaying or just sitting around doing nothing. I guess I should mention despite Earth's legendary status as masters of slow metal, this is my first dive into their captivating world. Since Hibernaculum consists of re-working past tracks to fit their current sound, it makes a perfect entry point. Needless to say, I'm more than in love with this album and am going to equip myself with some healing herbs and potions to start the journey through their back catalog.

- Wooly Mammal

Earth - "A Plague of Angels" (exceprt)