Band:	Elder
Album:	Lore
Style:	Psychedelic rock, Stoner metal
Release date:	February 28, 2015
A review by:	R'Vannith

01. Compendium
02. Legend
03. Lore
04. Deadweight
05. Spirit At Aphelion

If Elder have a lesson for their listeners in Lore, it's to keep on moving. There isn't anything profound in this, they'll just never stop for long and lay a riff to rest in a stagnant position, leaving it idle to overstay its welcome. Ineffectual repetition is skilfully bypassed, and, consequently, their third full-length effort features five elongated tracks with a high level of stoner metal detail and continuity.

A dynamic rhythm section designed to carve out compositional canyons and a Sleep benefited wisdom grants the band an ability for lengthy tunes on Lore, which shift with as much continual reshaping of song structures as one can envision within the context of singular stoner soundscapes. In many ways, these tracks are a seamlessly scenic tour and panorama of the genre, as it spans the psychedelic gamut of stoner's horizons, from its rock lined crevices, through the heaviest of heavy psych, and well into metal in a nicely diverse delivery. Although the arrangement is more elaborate in elongation and oft-changing than expected for a band of their kind, higher summits with engaging points of melody are found throughout the record, grasping at the listener with readier repetition and their bluesy groove edge.

The band's deft approach to song construction often finds just the right amount of repetition without driving a riff six feet under. However, there will be passages which arise to repeat themselves and establish a comparatively psychedelic laziness without demonstrating as much finesse in the leads and percussion as elsewhere, with the respective ability of such in edging song progression along via the ongoing flow and build of guitar and drum patterns. This imperative in the track-list is likely to lessen attentiveness on the listener's part at some intervals of the album in its entirety because, although the performance itself is certainly consistent, Lore is lined with its more obvious stand-out segments and points of greater engagement as repetition is emphasised in appropriate proportions in order to avoid monotony.

On the other hand, most of the album's passages sharply hold onto any given riff or melody for long enough without too hastily reshaping them, so that they leave the desired effect; that is, they're memorable, and can be recalled after listening. Repetition works wonders on the recollection, though Elder know not to overdo it, even if they might occasionally extend ideas a bit beyond their means or, conversely, underdo it, and change things up too regularly. Stoner is a genre which finds some of its best facets highlighted in repetition, though Elder would individually shape sounds to their own will.

A highlight for the record is obvious as all rhythm recedes and gives way to the floating feel of the title track's mid-section; the experience reaches a moment atop a mountain of melody to allow for respite and a view of its surrounds. The way back down is all assisted by melodic continuation and riffs well-weathered. This sixteen-minute endeavour is surely a place from which the band can stand proud of their achievements. To bring out the best of such, an outstanding production gives Lore the kind of texture that stoner fans dream of day-and-night, the fuzzy and bass emboldened riffs and drum sound being all rich, warm and inviting with their lucidity in the mix.

The vocal presence for Lore is rather minimal, as the band opt for the drawn out instrumental dominance of metal structured heavy psych. When used, the arrangements are a welcome addition and compliment the instrumentation well, DiSalvo's delivery bearing a natural stoner style and thoroughly granting tracks like "Legend" a psychedelic enhancement commencing around the three-minute mark. In fact, and although he lays out a few lines across the tunes, the album overall is often wanting of more of such vocals from DiSalvo.

Considering its demonstrated resources, Lore as a well-rounded whole isn't found to be wanting of much, save your ear. It's an excellent record from a band that have shown great promise, and deliver in spades in their third studio outing.