Wow, Earthtone9 are back! Guys! Where you been? You've
missed a lot of stuff.
Earthtone9 split up around 2001 and over the intervening
years I've kind of lost touch with metal and hardcore. When the chance to review this album came up I jumped at the chance, though. How would
this lost giant have changed in the 12 years since they last blew us away? Would the album still connect the same way Arc'tan'gent and Off Kilter
Enhancement did all those years ago? Only one way to find out...
March of the Yeti opens the album with a beast of a riff and
pounding drums, and it's great. There's a wee cheesy bit about halfway
through but that's okay; it doesn't last long and then it's back to big riffage.
The final 3rd opens with a classic breakdown building into a
harmonic guitar part and Karl Middleton's gutteral scream - welcome back lads! A fine start, things look
promising.
It soon becomes apparent Earthtone9 haven't really changed
much. That's both a comfort and a slight disappointment. You'd think something
would be different after all this time and they always came across as a fairly
progressive band. Still, this album rocks. If you want big riffs, soaring
vocals and proper metal yelling then this is for you. If you don't want that
then maybe you should move on and listen to 1D or something, this isn't for
you.
There are a couple of moments of innovation, like when Andersion
comes in with a rolling fat bassline which reminds me of a Shipping News track. It's a shame there's nothing that sounds as fresh as Tat Twam Asi did though (and still does - I listened to it again after writing this and it's better than
everything on this album).
So, while there's nothing that you could call really
progressive here, it still kicks ass. Tracks like God Cloud and Horizons End
are brilliant examples of heavy hitting post-metal. IV isn't quite up
there with earlier records but it's reminded me of how great Earthone9 were and
could still be. I guess it's only fair that they'd be a little rusty and ease
themselves in with a straight-forward rock album first.
Anyway, we need bands like Earthtone9 and it's great to have
them back. Intelligent, cerebral metal that still packs a mighty punch. If you've never heard of them, pick this up
and rock the fuck out. If you were a fan 12 years ago, take comfort that
they're back and rock the fuck out.
IV is out on 8th April and available here.
DO
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