EARTH OVER US

Released prior to their 3rd album "When we are Death", "Earth over Us" introduces one of the punchier tracks from that album, one that diverges from the more laid back doom-laden style forged over the prior full length releases. In fact, the EP "Iron Marsh" from a few years before had already done this to an extent. Perhaps the main reason for this single release, and the only reason for you to procure it, lies in the magnificent B-side "Gaia", a remake of a song by Swedish metal group TIAMAT on the occasion of its 20th anniversary. I dug up the original, and, particularly when combined with the official video with grainy black and white footage of a dire planetscape, the version by HEXVESSEL might be of greater interest to the prog rock community, more so since TIAMAT hasn't made it onto these pages.

The long intro (almost 2 minutes) is dominated by heavy droning rhythm guitar and percussion, with an expectant mood that is ultimately rewarded. When McEnerny's voice materializes, he delivers a long languid ode to Mother Earth and her ultimate power over us. The choruses provide a more harmonic, if not a lyrical, break from the despair, and are where the keyboard washes can be best heard. The instrumental breaks include distorted lead guitar runs and brass, before the coda brings it all to a somewhat abrupt end, perhaps intending to mirror our own collective (imminent?) demise.