Elder (band)

These guys are deserving of your attention if you enjoy heavy rock / metal. Power trio from New England.

http://www.metal-archives.com/images/3/4/1/8/341851.jpg?1407

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nDsO30bUx0

I specialize in elder law

Listened to the album with live jazz in the background and it sounded a little like King Crimson

http://cdn.theobelisk.net/obelisk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Elder-Reflections-of-a-Floating-World.jpg

New album June 2!

whoa I didn't know there's an Elder thread!

LORE is one of the great rock records of the decade.

and live, the band is *jaw-dropping*

Psyched.

Wow this band is good

I like music from the Elder

they are incredible. and young!

second-best set i saw at last year's Psycho Las Vegas (behind Tribulation).

I effused over Elder on one of the year-end metal poll threads, but I didn't know they had their own thread, haha. Never seen them live, and I live an hour from Boston. Also I had to buy my copy of Lore from Germany because I couldn't figure out how to get one from Armageddon Shop, which is within a three hour drive for me. I kind of hope this new one comes out on a real label instead of an underground record shop.

http://outlawsofthesun.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/an-interview-with-nick-disalvo-from.html?m=1

Pedal steel on the new one

it's funny these guys aren't more well known...seem like they would appeal to ppl who like Baroness, Mastodon or Pallbearer

I listen to them more than the first two of those, tbh. Haven't heard the new one yet, though.

To my ears they're in the same league as those three in terms of accessibility and mainstream appeal so yeah, not sure. They probably just need to stick around a bit longer and have some luck with publicity etc.

they aspire to the ranks of wobbler imho

\m/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKM-H48ergI

Pre-order is just $10, and they'll ship it the week before release: http://armageddonlabel.bigcartel.com/product/elder-reflections-of-a-floating-world-cd-digipack

Thanks fast
Maybe I should buy this on cassette, I bet it would sound great

All four albums, plus the highly recommended Spires Burn EP are all available on the site too. Even back in 2012 seeing them live was life changing. They hit the fuzzy sweet spot and massage it with sub-bass tones like no other. I don't know why another label hasn't snatched them up, perhaps Elder prefer it this way? Would love it if they brought somewhat under appreciated Boston area band Magic Circle on their next US tour -- two very different approaches to doom.

I'm on my second listen of a preview stream of the new one, very happy with it.

Can also get dls of previous albums here: https://beholdtheelder.bandcamp.com/album/reflections-of-a-floating-world

jealous! Yo hook me up bra

i was a little put off when they sent a stream rather than a d/l ... but i'll get over it (and buy the LP) :)

i don't have time to really type out thoughts on this, but per this band getting a break, getting good pub, snatched up by a label, putting stuff out thru Armageddon, etc. ... i have my suspicions that they have a pretty atypical view of all that stuff (i.e. the business of being in a band).

i interviewed Nick once but didn't talk to him about it. if i ever get another chance, i'd ask him.

http://www.stereogum.com/1939557/elder-the-falling-veil/premiere/?amp=1

DiSalvo!

from: https://beholdtheelder.bandcamp.com/album/reflections-of-a-floating-world

Europe/World: www.stickman-records.com/shop/elder-reflections-of-a-floating-world/

North America: Bandcamp is a bully and won't allow us to link directly to another store. Please find the Armageddon Label bigcartel website with a google search. Thanks for nothin, bandcamp.

Who even knows what the new one is,
Some
Other kind of music

Staving off truth

(Acoustic interludes)

My apologies for the above...

These guise are just my heroes

new album is out and fuckin rips

Would love it if they brought somewhat under appreciated Boston area band Magic Circle on their next US tour -- two very different approaches to doom.

― Fastnbulbous, Wednesday, May 3, 2017 6:58 AM (four weeks ago)

yus. two of my favorite american bands of the now, and i haven't seen either play live. where elder are concerned, i'm somewhat surprised by my own enthusiasm, as i'm not generally a fan of jam-oriented psychedelic rock. they keep their noodles trim & let the riffs do most of the talking, which helps. then again, i find myself loving all them witches, too, so maybe i'm just in jam band denial.

the cover art of the new album is very "Sacred Bones"

Have loved these guys since Dead Roots, new is another grade 1 smasher

I am intrigued - do I need their first two releases, or do they suddenly get a whole lot better with Lore, the two-song EP, and the new one?

You need Dead Roots. I can't count how many times I've spun that LP

Dead Roots Stirring is still my favourite they've done tbh, title song is a major jam

dead roots stirring and lore are both essential imo. havent heard the new one yet

i mean who is better than this band, heavy/hard-rock-wise? good lord, they're monstrous.

I think they hit their stride on the Spires Burn / Release EP and have been on an upward spiral since then

Not to diminish their early stuff, but they've come a long way

Bought Lore, Spires Burn/Release, and Reflections of a Floating World on Bandcamp. Maybe I'll spring for the first two later.

i agree w/ calstars, there's a pretty huge leap between Dead Roots Stirring and Lore, imo ... which is more a reflection of Lore's quality than DRS

Kinda into this now

Their 2009 debut isn't chopped liver either. Yeah it's more traditional stoner/doom, but it's fun. I've been lucky enough to see Elder four times now. The first, around 2012, was the loudest. I just jammed in the earplugs and let the sub-bass massage everything down to my hair follicles. I think they go for a more balanced volume level now that they're a bit more intricate. They're touring all over Europe this summer then back in the U.S. in the fall.

No one is better at their particular style. I do kind of think of Wo Fat as their cousins in Texas with more of a swamp/blues element, and an occasional nod to Bitches Brew fusion. After not properly touring the U.S. for their entire existence (again, they're more appreciated in Europe), I'm excited to finally see them in a couple weeks.

I banged out a review late one night.

okay wow yeah these guys rip... can tell they'd be pummeling live

i've already said this upthread but their set at Psycho Las Vegas last year was literally a jaw-dropping, stupid-grin-making kind of thing. i was absolutely blown away.

These guys have me revisiting Ancestors, who I hadn't listened to in quite a while (their last album is in 2012). Apparently they're currently recording a new one.

(she sells) sanctuary

\m/

bless this album

"Thousand Hands" is fight my geration's "lonely is the word"

Watching the sunset with E. what could beat this?

Sorry for the psychedelic intrusions : )

Sorry to interrupt the hosannas, but I don't know, this seems a bit same-y to me. Now I admit I've only listened to it once so far, but I think the songs on Lore had already started to differentiate themselves a bit more after one listen. It's super-pleasant and accomplished and all, but it seems like they've foregrounded the sonic wallpaper aspects this time around in place of memorable hooks. Hopefully further listening will change my mind.

52 answers w/o a troll
Guesss that's ok

Sorry, of course everyone's entitled to their own opinion

I wouldn't call that trolling. It's a fair complaint, and when not in the proper mood, I've had similar reservations about both Lore and Reflections. Elder build fascinating sonic journeys out of riffs, shifting textures and melodic fragments, but immediately memorable hooks are scarce. Not absent - more like sneaky. Can see why some might grow bored waiting for the point to arrive.

that's funny, earlier today i was thinking about how immediate i found this record compared to its proggy psychy metal peers

this album

"blind" is the sequel to "snowblind". holy shit

Love this band! I actually interviewed Nick a few weeks ago and he was a super interesting dude.

http://clrvynt.com/elder-interview/

my god this album

I think staving off truth is the highlight

wow, there are a lot of great riffs on this. "The Falling Veil" especially.

830 or so in Blind is tops

"staving off the truth"!

yes.

I've listened to Staving Off Truth so many times I've hardly heard the rest of the album yet. When it kicks back in after the long chill part in the middle I just, like, gaze over the canyons and dwell upon my many adventures as a wandering barbarian.

Carry on then

yep that track is

Put this on my year-end list for The Wire.

At over 2200 this album is far and away in the most other collections of things I've bought on Bandcamp. The median being around 100 or less probably.

Interesting. They felt pretty small-time / undiscovered when Lore came out (and even after). 2200 is 600 more than any of my shared albums and that includes Pinegrove and Deafheaven.

Is Elder huge?

Can you guys explain what these numbers get at? College friend of mine is in the band so I always get a kick out of exploring their success.

It means that 2200+ people have paid to download their album from Bandcamp (including me).

Their later stuff is #great but their high point remains “release,” at least for me

As leaves upon the water etc

#asttheplanetsrealign etc

this fucking band, man

They're a hard working band -- I think they've crossed the country four times in the last couple years. Every show I see there's more and more people. A group of five curious friends accompanied me at the one last month, and minds were properly blown. However, they're definitely still underground, as there is a big hurdle to cross over into the more semi-mainstream success of, say, Mastodon, QOTSA or uh, Evanescence. They don't neatly fit into any genre that is fashionable right now.

A good example are the two reviewers from Overkill via BangerTV. Seeing them talk about other music, they are often fairly articulate, but they come off pretty moronic here because they just don't know what to make of Elder. They don't fit into any one convenient bucket of doom, sludge, psych or prog, so they dismiss them as it's outside of their comfort zone.
https://youtu.be/mBsTQ1_UFow?t=8m17s

They remastered their first two albums, and added demos to the first one. I've already bought two different CDs of the first album, but I gladly paid the $7 on Bandcamp for this:

https://beholdtheelder.bandcamp.com/album/elder-remastered-demos
https://beholdtheelder.bandcamp.com/album/dead-roots-stirring-remastered

For additional perspective on their sales, here's the report after their first week of sales.

http://www.metalinsider.net/columns/metal-by-numbers/metal-by-numbers-614-miss-may-i-missed-some-sales

Miss May I sold 4,425, and Eighteen Visions 3,525. I've never even heard of those bands. Elder was the 11th rock/metal entry listed with just 520 albums sold.

Nick also has a 50 track or so public playlist on Spotify.

https://open.spotify.com/user/nickdisalvo/playlist/0gUCNLoCeXP1viRN3ej68u?si=1Cn-5p_PT7WwEht451RmiA

...and it’s very mellow, very “the amazing” for lack of a better reference

I wonder how they calculate numbers for albums that sell in those numbers. It's usually very hard to find credible sales figures for classical recordings that sell even five figures. Is the album only available through Bandcamp?

"Even six figures" (Reich/Glass numbers) is what I meant.

https://open.spotify.com/track/2nTFISlOwaTdUXOtpuiXRp?si=Cb4kkLHQTvecPosVjhNpWg

i mean who is better than this band, heavy/hard-rock-wise? good lord, they're monstrous.

bless this album

this album

my god this album

this fucking band, man

LOL. QFT.

UK dates from September 30th.

Every now and then, someone gets out of their head and discovers E

Annoyed at myself for neglecting to pick up a T-shirt at the London show. Really want a green on black 'embryo' (medium). Help!

I’ve got 2 shirts, one gold on black head in the desert, one blue on black cosmic. Don’t think I’ve seen the one you’re talking about

I think it's this design but on a black shirt. Looked much better.

https://tshirtslayer.com/files-tshirt/styles/shirtviewbottom/public/user-23801/x12a86e3d9df6cfc6dcf796697f66e029.jpg?itok=9ClTzz8y

Returning to the winter

(Downbeat)

“ELDER – THE GOLD & SILVER SESSIONS

Brand new EP of experimental, improvised material written and recorded while on tour in Europe in 2018!

Available Spring 2019 as the first record in the new Postwax subscription vinyl series from Blues Funeral Recordings. “

Looks like available on Bandcamp in July but seems to be streaming now : https://open.spotify.com/album/4WD2n2uML96zPjzds22Ykl

Nice. I pre-ordered that on Bandcamp but will definitely stream it now.

and...it's gone from spotify...

maybe this side project can hold me over until July:

https://goldandsilver1.bandcamp.com

The Elder thing has been rescheduled for July 12 on Spotify...

Elder thing now live
Let’s boogie

when did this band (who i already loved) turn into a motorik psych outfit? because i'm into it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2phzK85kSRw

Elder has changed their hometown to Berlin on Bandcamp.

I felt I should tell my people (you all)

Yeah that Gold & Silver Sessions was so good, I'd love to hear more of that influence creep into their next full length. This band slays so hard.

i mean who is better than this band, heavy/hard-rock-wise? good lord, they're monstrous.

bless this album

this album

my god this album

this fucking band, man

LOL. QFT.

UK dates from September 30th.

― Absolute Unit Delta Plus (Noel Emits), Saturday, June 16, 2018 4:11 AM (one year ago)

New song! New album in April!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QCXTizosLc

Those closing minutes are seriously groovy.

Full track listing:

1. Omens [10:53]
2. In Procession [9:53]
3. Halcyon [12:48]
4. Embers [10:47]
5. One Light Retreating [11:13]

North American tour dates:

May 6 - Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere
May 7 - Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
May 8 - Richmond, VA @ Richmond Music Hall
May 9 - Asheville, NC @ Mothlight
May 10 - Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
May 12 - Lexington, KY @ Cosmic Charlies
May 13 - Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge
May 14 - New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
May 15 - Houston, TX @ Secret Group
May 16 - Austin, TX @ Barracuda
May 17 - Dallas, TX @ Blue Light
May 19 - Albuquerque, NM @ Sister Bar
May 20 - Denver, CO @ Hi Dive
May 22 - St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club
May 23 - Chicago, IL @ Reggie’s
May 24 - Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
May 26 - Detroit, MI @ Sanctuary
May 27 - Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace
May 28 - Montreal, QC @ Café Campus
May 29 - Boston, MA @ ONCE Ballroom

I just emailed Armageddon Shop to see how the hell you preorder from them. I bought Reflections and Lore from Stickman and had them shipped from Germany because Armageddon Shop's web presence is like, Geocities level.

Finally got back around to “embers” after a Luke warm reaction when it came out and it sounds about ten times better than I remembered it, and like I always find with them, volume helps

I mean the break at 3:45 is

Staring at the sun hanging in air
Wait for it to fall

Deep cut for the fans. An animated short with music by Nick DiSalvo.

https://vimeo.com/36888803

I still haven't figured out a place to pre-order a CD copy of this.

armageddonlabel.bigcartel.com for ordering in the states. They certainly do not make it easy.

I was gonna suggest Newbury Comics (since bigcartel's shipping rates tend toward the extortionate IMO) but they're shut down thanks to COVID.

Omens is out!


http://beholdtheelder.bandcamp.com/album/omens

Listening to this now for the first time. Re: complaints about the vocals from the rolling metal thread: his singing has always sounded like that, but the melodies are doing a lot more on this album, and his voice can't quite keep up. I agree that it doesn't really hinder my enjoyment of the album, though. I do kind of miss the heaviness of Lore, but I'd rather have Elder doing Elder, there's tons of other bands doing heavy stoner jams.

Still waiting for my pre-order to get here before cracking into it, but the EP from last year really has me excited to hear it.

Oh yeah, my preorder hasn't come. RI is supposed to be getting off lockdown next week, I'm not sure if that's what's held it up. Stickman copies have shipped and European FB acquaintances have their copies in hand.

Yeah, mine has shipped and I got the notification, but the tracking number through Stamps.com just shows the progress it's made so far, doesn't have an expected delivery date like regular USPS tracking does.

Enjoying this, but agreeing about the vocalist not being able to keep up with the melodies. The moments I enjoy most on this are when the singing stops and the band takes over.

The vocals have never really been the big draw for me with these guys anyway, but that seems to be a common complaint about the new one so I'm interested to hear it.

fuckin' LORE, man

just got around to OMENS ... dude's vocals aren't bothering me at all ... another banger from this band, as far as i can tell.

i might spring for their most recent EP on bandcamp today, even though it's kinda spendy for 3 tracks ... granted they run 34 minutes long.

Yeah I just don’t understand the vocal dislike at all. This isn’t pop

The Gold and Silver Sessions are awesome, even more weird and motorik than Omens. Highly recommended.

Yeah, I much preferred that to the latest LP.

And of course this isn't pop, but that doesn't mean there's no method to metal vox. In Elder's case, they're serviceable most of the time. Every now and then, however, the contrast between the band's effortless instrumental virtuosity and dude's straining vocal cords comes across as more of a bug than a feature. It's way less of an issue when the guitars are amped up.

the snippets I've heard of this new one sound 1000x more interesting, melodically, than any previous Elder

In my review I said some of the vocals and guitar bits reminded me of Bitch Magnet, Unwound, Polvo, Rodan, and Shellac. In this recent interview, Nick mentioned having a hardcore phase, and cited the slowcore indie of Low and Idaho as influences: https://www.revolvermag.com/music/elders-nick-disalvo-5-albums-made-me#idaho-hearts-palm

OPO of the album closers: thousand hands vs one light retreating ???

One light is great the whole way though but I couldn’t help but look forward to hands...

Omens

Feel like Nick could use a foil to the bands benefit

One light is great the whole way through

holy shit wow this album

welcome...

Nicks side project Delving has a track out today

https://delving-music.bandcamp.com/album/hirschbrunnen

still can't believe how good this album is

Did you check out the krautier Gold & Silver Sessions EP?

no

You're missing out.

no i'm not

Ok.

i'd slept on Omens until this got bumped. seems really great so far, maybe their best?

wow this is really strong

i've also somehow never heard this record, april 2020 was a bad month for me to hear new music lol

anyway i'm correcting this shortly

Some kind of live steam thing going on next weekend , suggest we toke doobies

https://www.instagram.com/p/CPiSX72I5Jh

incredible stuff tbh, second one especially:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCzLI7_O-rk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy0XghYMttI

Nicks solo album is out today

https://delving-music.bandcamp.com/album/hirschbrunnen

https://open.spotify.com/track/67AZNXrPU17SmpTHVh1xQP?si=fsSAIZ4ZQAS-KvGz4pzurw&dl_branch=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m126bCoM4w

elder & kadavar collab coming in december

The CD is limited to 1000 copies apparently.

Robotor Records site seems to be asking €12 for shipping a CD to the UK which, sorry but went with the big bad A for this one.

Same. I know Forced Exposure had carried some of the more recent Kadavar stuff released during the pandemic, but nothing showing up for Eldovar yet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1cVSmcuXYk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8ADlo8dvGE

A plea for help:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cflgop8tXpM/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

that sucks ... has happened to Khruangbin and Helado Negro recently, too, though I know the former got all their stuff back.

https://beholdtheelder.com/elder-music/coming-soon/

New Al in nov

Yep, Innate Passage due out November 25th.

New single out, "Endless Return", I have to wait until later today to hear it.

https://beholdtheelder.bandcamp.com/

Was listening to Lore this morning.

Single crushed me, I only made it though half

NEW LP
https://beholdtheelder.bandcamp.com/album/innate-passage

psyched for this

Yes

Where is fast n bulbous these days

It's pretty good so far. Hasn't stuck to my brain the way Reflections of a Floating World did, not yet, but I'm gonna listen to it a few dozen more times, so.

They’ll probably have another half dozen albums like this until their breakthrough

on first listen the last two tracks really stand out. definitely listening to this a bunch.

overall this feels more propulsive than the last one. the mood is less earthbound and more playing in the sky. more sections featuring fast, flashy runs and switch-ups. skyward synth arpeggios. the end of track 4 and then the last track are more somber. it's really fucking good imo. gonna be my workout records for the rest of the year.

this rocks, giving me some much needed pep lately.

Damn this band is so consistently great, loving this new one.

high five

They're playing the Modified Ghost festival in Vancouver with Yob and Khemmis, plus other bands.

Tempting!

catching up on the new one, this is fantastic

Don’t sleep on the Eldovar album either from 2021

https://i.imgur.com/CguFpEK.jpeg

seeing them tomorrow, very excited

hope they play something from gold and silver sessions

the best live band seriously

https://delving-music.bandcamp.com/album/all-paths-diverge

New album

Elder proper is releasing a three-track live album next week; two of the three tracks are in the 15-minute range:

https://beholdtheelder.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-bbc-maida-vale-studios

That delving album reminds me a lot of the Gold & Silver sessions. I like it a lot on first listen.

He plays so many notes

it's an elder saturday

Lure 10 yr anniv tour

delving playing here in a tiny venue next weekend, not really checked them out properly yet

https://i.ibb.co/6mSwZQD/IMG-1028.jpg

https://open.spotify.com/track/67AZNXrPU17SmpTHVh1xQP?si=F9KfgXA1Q1eTBTxrOG6wlw

I can’t believe this is 13 years old

they have a new ep out and it's gorgeous.

Is the EP all we're getting or is this in advance of a full-length?