Band:	Elder
Album:	Live At BBC Maida Vale Studios
Style:	Psychedelic rock, Stoner metal
Release date:	August 30, 2024
Guest review by:	Blackcrowe

01. Merged In Dreams - Ne Plus Ultra
02. Lore
03. Thousand Hands

Live Growth and Sound Expansion.

Last week, I was listening to Elder’s self-titled record from 2008. I’ve always been into the band, and that record has always captivated me. This time, I truly observed their growth from psychedelic stoner doom, and the difference between then and now is absolutely incredible. Sixteen years later, the band has made an enormous shift by experimenting with new territories without limitations. Obviously, Elder doesn’t remain static; they are always evolving like a life form, like a small universe.

On Live At BBC Maida Vale Studios, the band moves away from the raw doom/stoner sound of their beginnings and now stands out in the progressive scene, incorporating new elements and sounding like Elder, but an evolving version of Elder. I think their new life in Germany, Nick DiSalvo’s Delving project, the collaboration with Kadavar, and certainly the desire to experiment have forged this new path, essentially turning them into a new band. I’m not saying it’s bad, it’s amazing how the freedom from musical limitations can make us let go of what we consider old or worn out and transform it into something completely new.

Recorded during Elder's 2023 European tour for the Radio 1 Rock Show with Dan Carter, Live At BBC Maida Vale Studios captures Elder’s evolutive energy, featuring three extended tracks: “Merged in Dreams - Ne Plus Ultra” from Innate Passage, “Lore” from Lore, and “Thousand Hands” from Reflections Of A Floating World. These songs, drawn from different stages of their career, showcase the band’s more progressive side, with the tracks flowing seamlessly together and highlighting Elder’s talent for crafting rich, immersive jamming soundscapes.

What makes Live At BBC Maida Vale Studios unique is how Elder revisits and enhances their songs. They blend their psychedelic stoner roots with improvised sections, progressive and krautrock influences, and spacey, dreamlike sounds. Each track feels revitalized, with layers of guitar effects, harmonies, keyboards, and expansive, open-ended sounds. Michael Risberg’s role as second guitarist has enhanced their live sound, allowing DiSalvo to focus on more intricate leads while maintaining a solid rhythm.

With Live At BBC Maida Vale Studios, Elder demonstrates that they are a distinctive band, fusing progressive, doom, and space rock into something entirely their own. Live At BBC Maida Vale Studios is more than just a live album; it’s a journey through the band’s ongoing pursuit of new sounds.

Elder has emerged as one of the most innovative bands in progressive rock and metal today. However, despite Live At BBC Maida Vale Studios's 40-minute runtime, the album feels too short, leaving us eager for more of Elder’s captivating new sound.