Elder – Dead Roots Stirring (2011) [Meteorcity] // Grade: B

Two years ago, I was raving about this new band Elder. This trio of doom and stoner masters weren’t even old enough to drink when they recorder their Self-Titled album and yet they had mastered intricacy in the form of doom metal at its finest. While many people didn’t Elder’s work a second or third spin, I was intrigued at their sound.

When I found their newest release, Dead Roots Stirring had slipped under my radar earlier this week, I scrambled to acquire a copy and after a few rotations, I’m digging it. It’s not the same Sleep worship as their S/T and it’s got a bit of its own identity. The band has matured with their sound and this album delivers. Like Sleep and other traditional stoner bands, Elder’s songs are all on the longer side. “Gemini” is the opener and you can tell right off the bat that this is a new Elder. It’s got bite and kick.

“Dead Roots Stirring”, the title track is a slow and controlled melt down, taking a bit to built up momentum before it evolves into a jam fest. My favorite track on the album is “III,” it’s one of those songs that slowly sways back and forth with the wind, only stopping for a riff intervention. From here on out, the album maintains this momentum. “The End” picks it up for a few seconds but there’s nothing epicly crushing, just calculated and clean.

The album ends with “Knot”, a percussion-laden track and consequently, Elder’s best work to date. There’s a weird tinge of Foo-Fighters and even Seattle grunge here. Elder is walking along the line of psych and punk, coming in sounding like an early Dinosaur Jr moreso than Sleep. It’s eerie how much their sound changes on Dead Roots Stirring. From heavy and slow doom and stoner to punk-ish grunge? Sure, why not. I can’t wait to see what path Elder takes on their next album.

- Prolly