Some sounds simply never grow old. With a seventies powerhouse sound flush with modern energy, Nostromo firmly plants Elden into this category. The sophomore outing from the Swedish stoner outfit features a timeless sound that will surely satisfy contemporary fans and old school headbangers alike.
While Elden tend to wear several of their influences prominently on their sleeves, I feel that it would be a disservice to the band to compare them to anything else directly. There are notes of stoner metal intermingled with a contemporary rock sound and flecked with traces of a very old school speed. Even some nineties influenced sludge grunge peaks its head in from time to time.
The band functions as a well oiled machine, creating a very unique sound despite a throwback mindset. Talent abounds on all fronts. Guitars are crunchy when they need to be and smooth out nicely when the mood suits them. The interplay between the drums and bass is outstanding, with the rhythm machine firing on all cylinders. Vocals standout the most on Nostromo, with a theatrically mournful wail that bears the thought of King Diamond pitched down for human consumption.
After a brief introductory track Sail & Savour kicks things off with a bang. The driving force behind the song perfectly compliments its softer sections. A beautiful bluesy solo that transforms very naturally into a face searing shred fest is a highlight along with a very emotional vocal track.
Anubis continues the forward thrust of the album with a powerful stoner romp featuring wailing lead parts and dramatic vocals pulled straight from the desert. The song keeps a faster tempo, but really shines when it slows down to a brooding sludge.
Next up is Fossilised(sic) which continues down the desert rock path. Featuring a very nice rolling drum beat and a theatrical quality to the track as a whole offers a very interesting sound.
We change up the feel for the first really notable time with Heavy Rain. Beginning with some beautifully flowing picked guitars and quickly transitioning to a tribal drum and bass centric jam. These elements blend together for a very nicely put together groove before exploding into a heavy desert rock banger.
A major stylistic shift comes with the grungy title track. A slowed down but persistently driving beat is paired with some vocal harmonies that are very reminiscent of a certain nineties grunge metal titan, including some very dark bluesy guitar pieces.
Creature Follows returns to a harder sound, with a much faster pace than most of the preceding tracks. This is a forceful number with a quick pace that has a distinctive late seventies feel.
The Passage serves as a nice little interlude before Two Faced Wizard brings the album to an explosive conclusion. A lengthier run time really allows the band to stretch out and present their individual talents in a piece that is the culmination of the art that this machine has created. A perfectly polished sound to close out a very well put together album.
Elden throws together many different styles to create a distinctive finished product. To forge such a unique sound while paying fitting tribute to the music that has come before it is no easy task, but on Nostromo, it is accomplished expertly.
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