EARTHLESS

Earthless is not tribute band but brings a modern variant of heavy psych, very similar to Monster Magnet's Tab ... 25 and the instrumental side of recent Motorpsycho albums. In comparison to those bands they keep things entirely instrumental, creating outstretched heavy jams that also bring Loop to mind. They create great grooves but miss a bit of the songwriting qualities, and at 20 minutes per jam, things can get a bit dreary if you're not in the mood.

The comparison to the great 70s examples isn't entirely favorable neither, the jams are certainly not as adventurous, experimental, blowing and free as those from Guru Guru or Ash Ra Tempel's rocking side. The band sticks to a simple rocking groove and doesn't let go of that for most of the time.

This is a fun listen, but only recommended if you already exhausted the discography of the bands mentioned above.

Godspeed" opens with chaotic sounds for about 3 minutes then it kicks into gear. The guitar starts to solo. It's more intense before 6 minutes. This is much better. A nice heavy SABBATH- like sound here.The guitar is just lighting it up 10 minutes in as the bass throbs and drums pound. Now the guitar is screaming 11 1/2 minutes. It starts to wind down before 18 1/2 minutes then we get a big finish.

"Sonic Prayer" kicks in heavily before a minute. Love the guitar 5 minutes in. It gets a little chaotic then the drummer takes the spotlight around 13 1/2 minutes as the guitar fades back. Guitar is back after 15 minutes. The song starts to wind down late. "Cherry Red" has a good heavy beat as vocals and guitar eventually join in. The guitar is lighting it up after 3 1/2 minutes. Great tune !

If your into heavy Psyche this is a must.

"Flower Travellin' Man" opens with drums that recall the start of ZEP's "Immigrant Song" and then the distorted guitar comes in swirling. Riffs 1 1/2 minutes in.Tighten your seat belts 'cause here we go ! Just a light show here from the guitarist as the bass and drums lay the ground work. Nice bass before 4 minutes.The guitar is just ripping it up 11 minutes in. A shred-fest 13 1/2 minutes in. It just blows me away that this onslaught goes on for 20 minutes.

"Lost In The Cold Sun" opens with noisy, distorted guitar as the bass and drums join in. It becomes SABBATH-like 4 1/2 minutes in and later at 12 1/2 & 15 minutes in. Another fantastic jam with a big finish.

I'd love to see these guys live, it would be a smoke-fest in more ways than one.

Wow, I never thought I'd see Earthless here... Prog, eh, I don't think so, but hey, I'm not on the Space Rock team so that's their decision. That is the only thing that makes me give this masterpiece a 4 and not a 5. This IS a prog website after all, and to some extent I must grade on the progginess of a band.

With or without that being the case, this band MELTS MY FACE in the truest, hardest rocking fashion! I've collected every single release from this band and I love them all... I wish I could say more, but Rivertree so perfectly summed up their music above me.

I can't believe I'm going to see this band in December! It will surely be incredible!

So we have one long jam here in fact - divided in four song titles. Isaiah Mitchell is a great guitar player - no doubt. He stretches his instrument to the limit. And it won't take long to notice that it's a really heavy going for the rhythm boys Mike Eginton (nimble-fingered bass) and Mario Rubalcaba (driving drums). Especially to hear during the second part of disc 1 - it must be From The Ages - an almost 20 minutes lasting uptempo parforce run quasi, provided with a repetitive behaviour and echoing guitar en masse. Obviously the band is on the peak here offering a pleasant contrast with this highlight.

Second LP/CD basically continues this highspeed improv performance interrupted by some descrescendos. So finally we have nearly 90 minutes where the band does not intensively seek for a distinctive progressive outfit - but it's enjoyable anyhow. The album came out as an unplanned surprise. Told about the recordings accidently they had a few listens and decided that it was a honest document which reflects the band's spirit as no other. Soon the decision was made to produce a double LP and CD released by Tee Pee Records.

'Live at Roadburn' delivers a virtuoso and furioso performance by all means - although it's still better to enjoy such music live at the venue as for my opinion. One or two may miss enough variety over the course of time. However - a must have for those who love extended rock music jams. In that case you can grab this one beyond doubt.

The guitarist Isaiah Mitchell is in my opinion very talented and imaginative as a solo player, the professionally performing rhythm section mostly keeps the set together. I think it is an achievement to lead a twenty minutes excluding jam track with solo instrument in an interesting manner. The overall sound of this group is also really pleasant to listen, an association of an expanded treatment of The Jimi Hendrix Experience's "Driving South" BBC Session track is brought to my mind, also live sound of Cream with less-adventurous rhythm section is another thought as comparison.

So if you like guitar driven heavy psychedelic rock music, where long jams are borne from simple rules and vivid imagination, this record will probably please you.

On the other side Earthless song "Jull" presents a more lighter and rock-oriented side of this group. Rolling drum rhythms and cosmic sounds support the fine and positive guitar riffings and themes building up a nice spaced-out instrumental rumba. There is also a really fine drum solo in the end of the song, where toms are creating cool rhythm harmonies with the backbone constructed from bass drum and cymbals. Though in this short 7 inch single the group won't reveal their excellent jamming capabilities in total extent, as I think it is unigue how well they can play with instrumental trio over 20 minutes. But still this track and the other song accompanying it are nice to listen, and the single fits well to any vinyl collection devoted to psychedelic and stoner rock music.