The progressive space rock/doom metal hybrid EARTH ALTAR and heavy stoner/doom power trio SUN BELOW unleash a riff-heavy journey across time and the cosmos on their upcoming doubly split album, Inter Terra Solis. Having sculpted an epic ride of distorted guitar, vocals and trippy lyrics, the bands explore the labyrinth of the human psyche and the unpredictability of the universe within a ponderous palette of crushing doom and stoner-tinged mystery. Inter Terra Solis is due out on September 15th via Black Throne Productions. Pre-orders are available HERE.
First on the split, EARTH ALTAR is the interplay between the complex, diverse drum style of Jon MacIsaac and the unique, ethereal bass guitar playing of Spencer Trout. EARTH ALTAR seeks to leave these mundane bonds and ascend through the heavy and the other-worldly. Mixing stoner rock, doom metal, space rock, and psych rock with progressive song structures, cosmic musings, and world-wide influences; EARTH ALTAR sounds uniquely themselves.
We begin our journey with “The Descent.” Reminiscent of Dante’s infamous journey, the odyssey begins here. While an opening to the underworld, it is not quite the underworld as we know it. It is not a manifestation of divine justice, but a literal world beneath our feet. The air, initially stifling, comes to grow fresher as we go deeper and further. The purpose of the journey, though obscured, is beginning to reveal itself.
“The Garden Of Earthly Delights” takes the listener through caverns of ethereal light and diverse flora and fauna. All life here is familiar, yet odd like a dream. We press on, “In The Growing Light Of Anthelion,” the light being as warm as the sun, but not as bright. Wrapping with “Transmutation (The Alchemist’s Dream)” the story bears the fruits of the struggles of our journey, the base thrill and pleasure, the acquisition of knowledge of so few before.
Closing out the album with three immense tracks, SUN BELOW is a heavy stoner/doom power trio playing a signature brand of self-described “Sativa rock”: a combination of fuzz, volume, and heavy grooves. SUN BELOW seek to spread their infectious, rollicking sound to the masses and their mission remains to create riff heavy rock fused with the sonic weight of crushing doom. The current lineup of Jason Craig (guitars/vocals), Liam “Acid Goblin” Gray (bass) and Will Adams (drums) blend these elements into long burning jams that worship at the altar of tone, riffs, and smoke.
SUN BELOW starts their cosmic journey with an instrumental, “Red Giant.” The Sun, looming silent yet ominously over Earth, represents a constant reminder of the finite nature of our delicate cosmic existence. “Methuselah Star” – in the distant bellows of space, an ancient star burns luminously. Rivaling the universe itself in terms of age, the origin of its creation remains clouded in uncertainty. Wrapping with “Gravity Tide”, SUN BELOW explores the delicate cosmic balance of the Earth, Moon and Sun. The nature of our being is fragile, we live in the shadow of an unpredictable universe of which we understand little, and can impact even less.
As above, so below, the duality of the underworld and the cosmos, the microcosm and the macrocosm is thoroughly traversed through the lyrical themes and tones of each band. While EARTH ALTAR and SUN BELOW tackle a different aspect of our reality and nature, each is intimately tied with the other.
EARTH ALTAR Online:
https://earthaltarband.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/earthaltarmusic/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/earthaltarband/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3kg4rGo3WNcNJKvfyZPNYY
SUN BELOW Online:
https://sunbelow.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/sunbelowband/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/sunbelowband/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Tn9YW5gCmBw7vyWt3gruo
Earth Altar – The Descent
Earth Altar – The Garden of Earthly Delights
Earth Altar – Interlude
Earth Altar – In The Growing Light Of Anthelion
Earth Altar – Transmutation (The Alchemist’s Dream)
Sun Below – Red Giant
Sun Below – Methuselah Star (Interlude)
Sun Below – Gravity Tide
