ERASER

4.5 stars. LONG DISTANCE CALLING out of Germany have been pretty consistent at releasing a new album every 2 years and this is their latest "Erasure" from 2022. I first became aware of them when I heard that Jonas the KATATONIA singer was featured on one of their songs on "Avoid The Light" from 2009 their second release. I bought it the year it came out and became a huge fan. The next one which is self titled and from 2011 is just as good if not better. Later I went back and got the debut as well as "Trips" but both disappointed me. So it wasn't a given to pick this one up but man I'm glad I did.

This is an instrumental concept album about endangered species. A powerful and at times emotional album. We get the short intro track "Enter: Death Box" which is a sad intro for the next seven track with piano leading the way. Each track that follows is about a different endangered species and in the liner notes it details where each one lives and approximately how many are still in existence, how endangered they are and the habitat they live in. The final track is about humans and of course we are far from endangered and with over 8 billion or so of us we are just about everywhere on this planet.

A four piece of dual guitars, bass and drums these guys can play and I have always been attracted to their sound. They have brought in some guests to add piano, trombone, trumpet, cello, violin and lastly sax from SHINING's leader Jorgen Munkeby. "Blades" is about the Black Rhinoceros and is powerful and heavy right out of the gate. One guitar solos the other offers expressions. They don't let up on the throttle much on this one. "Kamilah" is about the Eastern Gorilla and while this isn't as heavy as the previous track it sounds amazing with the steady bass and drums while the guitarists do their thing.

"500 Years" is about the Greenland Shark and it's haunting to start out lots of atmosphere, quite dark then we get hit with a heavy and slow rhythm. I like the riffs later on. "Sloth" about the Pygmy Three-Toed Sloth has a different vibe with the sax and piano. And there is emotion late on this one for me. "Giants Leaving" is about the Wandering Albatross and it hits the ground running. Uptempo and on fire before setting back with post rock guitars.

"Blood Honey" is the longest at over 10 minutes and about the Long- Horned Bee. Just a great sounding rhythm here and post rock guitars. An interesting section around 3 1/2 minutes, quite inventive with the drums and guitars. I like the calm too around 5 1/2 minutes where percussion and bass stand alone but not for long. "Landless King" is about the Tiger and is one of my favourites. The cycling guitar, the atmospheric calm, the build and after 5 minutes were away, so good. "Erasure" is us, the humans. Far from being endangered of course and this is a killer closer at over 9 minutes. It ends sadly with strings which seems appropriate.

This makes a nice top three for me when to comes to this band. This fits in nicely with "Avoid The Light" and the self titled one. Bumping this one up.