Elder - Reflections of a Floating World

Elder - Reflections of a Floating World

Armageddon Shop (US) / Stickman (GER) /  2017 / Stoner metal

Elder received quite a lot of well-deserved press for 2015's Lore, my first introduction to the band. I love Lore, so I was interested to see in what direction the Massachusetts band went with their fourth full-length. Reflections of a Floating World starts off in a similar place as Lore with heavy-rock riffs and a massive, deep sound. I hear echoes of Brent Hinds in the first solo on "Sanctuary," which is where that track becomes more spaced-out than anything I've heard from Elder before. It's these cosmic, ethereal sounds that feel new to Reflections, which lends further dimensions to the sound established in Lore.

About 5:20 into "Sanctuary" there's a wonderful little melody that I can tell I'll have stuck in my head for a long time. Elder have an excellent feel for unique, slightly off-kilter melodies and showstopper moments in a way that reminds me, weirdly enough, of Agalloch. It's a testament to Elder's songwriting skills that they keep finding these moments, though I do wish that melody would stay longer, or make a return later in the song.

"The Falling Veil," after the slow-build, quiet intro, is comfort-food Elder, with a ton of meat-and-potatoes riffing and an interesting little vocal hook. The newer cosmic sound works best here and on the next song, "Staving Off Truth," both which use keyboards as prominent ornamentation. These are huge, exhilarating tracks that provide an incredible rush when the two styles meet.

Contrast those tracks with "Sonntag," which is all buildup and no release. I would've probably liked "Sonntag" if it was four minutes shorter and in the middle of the album, but its length and placement kills the album's momentum. It might have shone in a different setting, but sandwiched between my favorite track in "Blind" and the excellently-crafted "Thousand Hands," which has the strongest vocals on the album, its failure to really arrive is noticeable. If there's a weak link here, that's it.

It's hard not to compare Reflections to the previous album, but that isn't to its detriment. This album is a substantial move forward, more challenging than the pure, unfiltered adrenaline rush of Lore but retaining the highs. It took me a few listens to get fully on board, but Elder have found an excellent new dimension to their sound.

8/10