new live reviews / arc'tan' gent
for hi-point, off kilter enhancement, lo-def(inition) discord & old live reviews click here...
evolution fest phase two: feed the addiction ~ dec 2000
kerrang ~ kkkk ~ the experimental five-piece launch into "evil crawling i" as they hit the stage and the crowd promptly loses it again. "as you know there are no germans in the house tonight," says frontman karl middleton in reference to the fact that guano apes pulled out of tonight’s show at the last minute because of van problems. "their efficiency has gone tits-up," he continues with a note of bitterness in his voice.
the last thing on everyone’s minds at this stage, though, is guano apes, as "star damage for beginners" – without doubt the finest track on the "arc’tan’gent" album – starts. dark and brooding, it builds up into a frenzy that remains for the rest of the evening.
closing with the roof-raising "withered" – probably the best-received track of the set – earthtone9 ensure the audience leave happy and secure in the knowledge that they’ve just witnessed some of the finest metal talent in britain right now.
rocksound ~ earthtone9 are at the end of months of touring (with pitchshifter and soulfly) after the release of album of the year contender, "arc’tan’gent". "tat twam asi", "yellow fever" and "evil crawling i" pass in a blur, as singer karl twists and turns alongside the tortured guitars of messrs joe and oz. next song "prd chaos" has one of the finest riffs in metaldom, and the brutal "withered" ends proceedings for one of the success stories of the year.
supporting soulfly, astoria london... erhhh, we didn't go down too well! ~ dec 2000
kerrang ~ earthtone9 sound awful when they hit the stage and struggle to offer something that even their fans would recognize for the first half of the set. admittedly, this doesn’t seem to put anyone off much and there’s a healthy pit throughout that gets bigger as more and more people get past the slowest moving queue in the universe. all the same it makes for possibly the worst set i’ve seen from a band who deserve so much more and only a stunning rendition of "withered" at the end saves the day. disappointing.
terrorizer ~ it must have been a long tour. the last time i saw earthtone9, they blew me away, carefully building up their pyre and then torching it to fuck, with a ferocity no amount of anticipation could prepare you for. no such ruptures this time, sadly. the sound in here is far too cavernous to do their shifts of velocity justice, and the riffs that should be tearing the top of your head off insinuate themselves like foregone conclusions. "i think we’re losing you," says a self-confessedly knackered karl middleton. they’ll get ‘em back next time………..
metal hammer ~ although their groove-orientated, sometimes eastern-sounding racket was as captivating as ever, it was a case wrong crowd, wrong night for earthtone9…….
evolution fest phase one: slam jam ~ oct 2000
kerrang ~ kkkk ~ at first glance you may think you’ve come to the wrong venue. there’s a queue outside, the likes of which has not been seen for an all british since the queen mum was a teenager. and although, admittedly, it’s taken a four-band bill to achieve it, there’s a buzz here that at last acknowledges how good our own bands are. of course there’s no need for pointless jingoism – who gives a shit where good music comes from so long as it’s good? but tonight at least shows that quality can overcome hype.
nottingham’s earthtone9 are rapidly establishing themselves as british heavyweight contenders and who steal the show tonight. already outstripping will haven (to whom they’ve been compared many times) in both content and power, earthtone9 have finally realised that it’s the subtleties in their music that make them so special and thus sound all the more menacing and mesmerising for allowing a few less brutal like "prd chaos" into the set. and with three brilliant albums to choose from there are simply no fillers, though some of us would kill to hear tracks like "ever you say" played live.
as they finish their set with a perfect "withered" you can’t help yourself thinking that if they were american then earthtone9 would be headlining the astoria by now, as they so richly deserve. it’s up to you to make it happen.
metal hammer ~ 9/10 ~ thank fuck! finally people are actually opening their ears and listening to and caring about the music rather than worrying about how many facial piercings bands possess. the garage is rammed with punters – all ready to witness four completely different but fantastic slices of rock at it’s finest.
it’s taken earthtone9 three albums and countless tours of toilets and playing to fucking no-one for them to get to a level where people are finally taking note of their euphoric, atmospheric, indulgent rock. whereas most of my fave bands are described by my better half as "shouty arse cornflakes music" (a euphemism for noisy, can’t hear the words metal, apparently), earthtone9 eloquently combine total heaviness with vast amounts of melody. and tonight, through the bushy beard, karl middleton really displayed the true wonders of his vocal range.
while the majority of his "singing" amounts to no more than bellowing screams, when he does hold back and actually sings you realize there is a real genius at work here. "i nagual eye", "tat twam asi", "grind & click", "approx. purified" and closer "withered" – all display that earthtone9 are offering the rock audiences something just that little bit different, and i was so engrossed in the music i even forgot to see whether or not those shiny shirts were in place. by far the nottingham boys’ best gig to date.
rocksound ~ recent coverage for earthtone9 may suggest that we actually favour them over others but the simple truth is that they’re headlining one of the strongest uk bills yet assembled and there’s a phenomenon building.
vocalist karl might just get that bit more in your face and it’s a heavier, less eclectic set than some, but it’s more about making new friends than impressing the critics and the result is well classy!
terrorizer ~ in musical terms, earthtone9 aren’t exactly unprecedented. i can make out some heavy doses of tool and faith no more, while others have pointed out alice in chains and will haven on many occasions. but like everything else in e9’s music they’re just co-ordinates to be refined and exceeded, fuel to be expended on a search for enlightenment. you can sense it in those song titles that scan like cryptic marker points, the lyrics full of spiritualistic trials, and the sweet supplication in karl middleton’s voice, just before he lets rip with enough force to leave you several layers of skin lighter.
maybe it’s the beard, but what he reminds me of most is the fizzbot creature from "the dark crystal", switching between cuddly serenity and ferocious self-assertion in an instant. songs like "tat twam asi" slowly build up their resources and then revolt against their own gravity as the stage is beset with madly bobbing facial growths and the moshpit ignites into a testimonial pyre.
at times, they come close to the young gods for sheer primal propulsion, but it’s those razor sharp guitars like anemone spines passing you towards some gaping maw that really send you soaring. for a band so keen on the metaphysical, earthtone9 sure know how to give you a kick.
dynamic rock ~ autumn 2000 ~ one of the most musically gifted and intense bands in the world, residing in the confines of england, is the amazing earthtone 9. this is what happens when a band fuses the best elements of passion and creativity with expert musical composition and professionalism, they achieve a level of status and awareness that few bands can ever dream. earthtone 9 is one of these very rare bands and even though this is only their second full-length, the level of maturity and experience that they have gained is highly evident.
epic song structures in the vein of tool or sunny day real estate, coupled with the intensity of a pantera or slipknot, mixed with the thrash-like elements of slayer, and accented by the passion of post-hardcore in the vein of glassjaw, gives the listener just an inkling of what to expect from the sound and style of earthtone 9. the level of musical tightness and flow is astonishing while the band’s ability to perfectly emulate and then mesh the variety of musical genres that they undertake is breathless. the ability to shift from all-out thrash/aggression to beautiful melodies, instantaneously is a trademark developed and defined by this band. exquisite drumwork and percussion feedback, colliding with the dual attack of the high-end distorted riffs and underlying melodies, and riveting basslines will embark the listener on a thoroughly intense and satisfying thrill-ride.
prepare for an earth-shattering experience as the listener is exposed to the chilling vocal capacities of the highly gifted karl. ranging from beautiful melodic singing in the emo vein, to intense hardcore screaming without limits, karl takes the listener on a rollercoaster of cathartic emotional release. the flow between the music and the vocals is expertly handled, and there is enough experimentation and range added to keep the music diverse and fresh. shifts within his vocal range is nicely done, while backing vocals add some depth to the overall sound. the intensity and passion that is released through the vocals is almost overpowering and will definitely keep the listener enthralled.
"off kilter enhancement", the second full-length from the band, takes the elements that they had started on "lo-def(inition) discord", increased the intensity and energy tenfold and diversified their sound into one of the more powerful and pleasureable albums out their today. while the energy and passion is kept at high levels throughout, certain songs do stand out more than others. "grind and click" and "zechariah rush (uru shalom har meggidon)" start out the cd with two extremely powerful and epic songs, incorporating elements of post-hardcore, thrash, punk, nu-metal and excellent vocal stylings, very anthemic. "0…0…0…" and "enertia 65800" are two more mellow, bass-driven songs with toolesque song structures and darker, somber vocal melodies. "serpentine placement" and "nameless (the 4th and the 10th) go back to their more dynamic song structures and vocal attacks mixed with higher energy and intensity.
with a fairly new release in the "hi-point" ep and another upcoming full-length to be released, earthtone 9 are setting themselves to become a permanent fixture in the nu-metal music scene. as long as this band continues to display their extraordinary musical talent and versatility, and continuing their evolutionary process, which is already highly evident by the progress made from their previous albums, earthtone 9 has no boundaries by which they are confined. their music is some of the most brutal and honest that can be found from anywhere around the world. though not considered "mainstream", this band has a loyal following and if they get the exposure that they deserve it will not be long before earthtone 9 becomes a household name along other great musical acts in tool, metallica and slayer.
final score: 8 out of 10
trotters rock ~ autumn 2000 ~ i have been telling all who would care to listen about nottingham's earthtone9 right from the time of the release of their debut album "lo-def(inition) discord" and i fervently believe that this, the bands third album, will be the album that finally gains the band the recognition they truly deserve. until now no other band since faith no more have touched upon the versatility and sheer diversity that earthtone9 display.
the bands music is emotive and almost poetic yet never loses the brutality that any self respecting metal head would come to expect. this album is the most adventurous piece of modern metal you are likely to hear this year and has progressed on the back of the solid foundations of the bands two former albums. indeed i would actually go so far as to challenge anyone, who takes the time to listen to "arc'tan'gent",to say that earthtone9 are anything other than pure genius.
the new album sees the band break ground that even someone like me, who holds them in the highest esteem, thought difficult to achieve and evidence of this can be found by listening to the song "walking day" which, at just under seven and a half minutes, showcases just about everything the band are all about and will undoubtedly prove to be a live favourite for years to come. i immediately refer back to my last statement with concern, however, as surely if this album doesn't do the business for earthtone9 what do they have to do next? even geniuses such as these are going to get pissed off if they don't get the recognition they deserve so please don't miss this opportunity to get hold of the best british album of 2000 and finally put et9 in the big league.
indigo flow zine ~ autumn 2000 ~ it wasn't that long ago that i predicted that this album would be earthtone9's finest yet. was i right? indeed i was!
arc'tan'gent is happily standing on the shoulder of the previous two albums and jumping up and down to cause maximum injury. gone are the days when you had to choose between melody or metal, now both come at the same time, which is what pushes this album so hard.
for an album like this i wouldn't normally even try to pick out a standout track because every song is so great. my choice is made somewhat easier though, by the appearance of liberty 37 frontman ishmael lewis on yellow fever. the smoothness of his voice slides so perfectly of e9's crunchiness that it's almost painful. 10/10
force 10 ~ autumn 2000 ~ tat twam asi: well this track blew me away on their previous release the 'hi point' e.p and well its improved. a tribal-esque drum beat and karl chanting "tat twam asi" opens the best song i have heard in a long time then goes into a relatively calm verse then breaks into a violent distorted scream which blows you away then a chorus which karl's voice has a haunting tone that gives you goose bumps.
evil crawling i: starts with a small catchy guitar riff that stops and starts then breaks into a full on attack on the ears then it winds its way into a upbeat chorus and with a new found clarity that lifts you and then throws you back to the screams of karl.
p.r.d chaos: upbeat guitar opens this track lulling you into a false sense of security then it dive down to a tool esque feel with a hint of maynard in the vocal style though karl's awesome scream makes an appearance its the solid drums and guitars that make this song great aswell. a progression in style and its to their credit.
approx. purified: this one hits you like a mike tyson blow to the dome and only calms briefly. the aggression is intense in this track he is pissed at something but i will leave that for you all to figure out (cause i'm a lazy man and there is a long way to go yet).
walking day: after the previous track i needed something to calm down and this track has seemed to have succeeded, this shows a further progression within their music not that they haven't had mellow songs before but this one seems to show a erm sensitive side to the band with karl's voice as soft as ever and the gorgeous guitars (sorry i'm going a bit soft on you err leave it) the drums blend nicely i am actually close to falling asleep here it does lift to a heavier status but still soothing..
star damage (for beginners): opens with a strange little sample "the only way out was to fuck their way out" i think it says a voice from another world or ned (war vet with voice box) from south park (haha) anyway the music err ok right sorry lost my trail of thought. ok i got it, karl's screams back in with another assault on the ears with the help of the rolling bass line, guitars and drums which the whole song slides together well. this one has been stuck in my head since i downloaded it from their site a damn fine track.
ni9e - this is the sound...: where the hell did this come from? it's a mixture of off kilter drums with a few guitar riffs thrown in. cant seem to describe what i'm hearing it reminds me of a band i heard called 'breech' it hints on neurosis and kong aswell. well i suppose best to call it experimental..
yellow fever: (feat. ishmael lewis from liberty 37): i have never heard liberty 37 before so i don't know what to expect but ishmael wrote the lyrics aswell so the plot thickens, it supports a influence from tool but ishmael's vocals seem very hypnotic, this is a superb track with an awesome atmosphere (picture staring out of a window while its raining this track fits perfectly) it could bring you to tears (i didn't cry i'm all man haha). i think i am gonna check out liberty 37 now after this display of brilliance.
alpha hi: well as i dry the tear from my eye the next track i have already encountered on the 'hi point' ep it shows a return to the aggressive ways it snaps me out of the trance i was in and whips me into a frenzy with the up lifting chorus. this is a good track live because it gives you a chance to go nuts aswell as rest during the song and catch your breath..
binary 101: now for the grand finish: gentle licks of guitar string open this a song of epic proportion though the beginning reminds me of tool but it comes into its own with a earthtone9's unique guitar sound (yes they have one), entrancing vocals and a bold and rolling bass line that captures another side of et9. this 8 minute and 26 second epic rounds off what is a superb album.
overall: this band deserves to be recognised amid all the current american bullshit we are being fed frankly i'm pissed off with it it's the same bullshit everytime. we have our own style, we have our own bands, we need to take back what is rightfully ours in metal, we don't need masks, we don't need endorsements from leading sports manufactures, we have music and that's all that matters. buy this album, buy all their albums you will not regret it.... lets take a stand against the world lets give them something to think about before they send us yet another "product of the usa" i want to see this band performing to a pact out brixton academy, i wanna see this band headline a major festival, i want to see this band go all the way to the top they deserve it.
(phew! deep breath barney)stand out tracks
tat twam asi,
binary101,
yellow fever,
walking day.rating 5/5: aggressive, powerfull, hypnotic the meaning of life is here!!
organ ~ august 2000 ~ here we go then... these boys don't hang around, album number three already and they've pushed themselves even further out there on to the edge with their progressive crunch. this is somewhere around king crimson meets will haven, this is almost too good to be true. earthtone 9 are taking nu-metal in to new lands in the same way that bands like celtic frost pushed the boundaries of thrash in the 80's. there's still that intensive crunch, that snap and bite, that violent grip around the neck that never lets go, and now they've added this dark menacing melodic edge.
earthone 9 are really a gloriously forward-looking prog rock band, listen to that beautiful off kilter discordance. earthone 9 are doing the impossible and getting better every time.
"p.r.d chaos" is almost a ballad in a tool kind of way; their restraint is beauty itself. earthtone 9 make thinking metal, this is a million miles ahead of things like the new soulfly album. earthtone 9 really are taking us into new areas somewhere beyond korn and faith no more, somewhere past killing joke, out past tool, they’re now heading way out past them all. they have an urgent melody, they do indeed use melody as a weapon, there sound is so gloriously distinctive now.
they still have those violent tendencies, don't go getting the idea that they've compromised in anyway, even if "walking day" would almost sound comfortable on a radiohead album. this is more of everything. you need this album so very very much, your record collection is incomplete without it, just go get it now.
gloriously graceful, violent beauty with an unexpected twist. yes. someone is going to have to come up with something massive to beat this to album of the year.
gareth rose earthtone9 site ~ august 2000 ~ to be perfectly honest i don’t really know where to start in reviewing this album. i had planned on doing a track breakdown (like the mighty yaz did) but having listened to the album (and my tendency to go off in a completely different direction) i decided that it deserves to be taken as a whole, as a symphony as opposed to an organ radio for instance.
the first thing that strikes you is the diversity of it. in fact i suppose some may cry out ‘sell out’ but its hard to say to a band who have spent the last 4 years living out of a van playing every shite hole in the country (and a few in spain). what would cause such claims would be the lack of screaming i guess and the lack of breakneck speed a la grind and click.
the whole thing kicks off with tat twam asi the track that more or less revealed the new direction the band were planning. the version on here is even better than the dave chang produced one on hi-point. the extremes being even more highlighted than before.
the whole thing is punctuated with recognizable tunes, either that have been played live a lot recently or were on hi point. the strangest track in that capacity is p.r.d. chaos a track that i first heard on a rainy night in rugeley way back in april. its haunting verse seems brand new to my ears but come the insanely catchy chorus i could just be at the red rose with all the minors…………..however this is ish (from liberty 37’s) first appearance on the album so he may well have completely changed the verse.
walking day is a slow soothing track similar in design to 0…0…0… it again feels very haunting with joe’s backing vocals adding more quiet menace to the whole affair. si’s drums remain brutal through out and the middle is reminiscing of the quiet part of the song ænema. it’s the track most likely to be played on the evening session if steve lamaq wasn’t so in the pocket of the majors. its long (7 minutes plus) but it has the nifty habit of changing directions to keep you interested, most defiantly the track that’ll be you favourite after 50+ listens.
star damage comes complete with the catchiest chorus the boys have ever written although after its porno intro and its first few bars you wouldn’t guess it. few other bands could manage the change from brutality to fatality (in that you’ll love it hey i needed to wake you up there) with such grace. if only the deft ones had realized that they didn’t have to compromise their heaviosity for melody – the two could work side by side – there new album may not have been shite but enough about that……………..
ni9e (its sub titled something like ‘this is the sound’ doesn’t say on the promo cover) is actually a minute of loops and a build up to yellow fever, another track that features ish heavily again its heaviosity is in its structure there may not be any screaming but like on tool’s ænima it doesn’t need it. the frantic lyrical structure causes distress without destroying eardrums in a way it sounds like faith no more or alice in chains circa the year two thousand.
oh i suddenly realized that what i said i wasn’t going to do (review each track) i’ve done damm. alpha hi was for me not my favourite et9 track but the inclusion of a beautiful harmony on the verse (yet again joe comes up trumps , who needs a singing bass player)has turned it into a stormer and the rah rah rah ohhhhhh (come on can you work out what he’s saying?) bit in the middle is as decimating as ever. andy sneap (or just sneap as oz calls him) has managed to keep make the melody even softer without ruining the heavy part. whether the quieting of the mantra bit in approx. purified is as a good idea i’m not sure………….
evil crawling i is kept pretty much similar to the live version with the brutal vocals reverberating around your eardrums. it’s a track that could be come one of the live favourites once people hear it more it’s one of the few tracks that reminds you of old material on an album that constantly screams out this is n.e.w.
oh yeah and binary 101 begins a tad similar to led zeps kashmir (puff daddy anyone?) i think by putting it last the guys have mad the only mistake on an album full of perfections. its long and complex but by finishing with it i feel that the guys have stuck to tradition on an album full of brave alterations. it’s the same idea that saw them finish with simon says on the first album but what do i know hey……………………………..
in summary (jesus i feel like i’m writing an essay) with the lack of a tool album or a neurosis tour there is nothing else for intelligent aggressive music fans to spend there money on. i mean there has not been an album this complete for quite a while whilst its fragility in parts may put off some medulla fans its diversity may see the guys fall into a currently empty niche, its along time since someone did it ‘not for the nookie’ so well. its two years since times of grace, 4 years since aenima 1 year since the fragile. since that record (nins) there has been little for those intellectually minded music fans to sink their teeth into aside from obscure stuff like le savy fav or mr. bungle in short (hey it can be done) there is something for everybody in this album so make like a circle and roll up and buy it (i am so sorry its been a long review and after all you cant just flip ‘em over and have ago can you?!?)
rigsby’s earthtone9 site ~ august 2000 ~ wow, if you want to know what hard work is about, just take a look at earthtone9. if they're not touring they are producing first-rate albums and here we have their third in just over two years. it's been recorded at philia studios, henley on thames and backstage studios, ripley with the production by andy sneap.
this album is going to surprise, even frighten a few people, as it shows a level of maturity and progression that is rarely even considered, let alone achieved in this genre. the band have without doubt broadened and strengthened their overall sound for the better, building on the solid foundations of "lo-def(inition) discord" (#1) and "off kilter enhancement" (#2). they have taken greater chances, with a number of more probing songs, from both the band and the listeners point of view, that change the balance of their sound and finds them exploring further the delicate and tantalising side of their music.
however it wasn't love at first sight, as on the first couple of listens, it was only the tracks that i'd already heard live that screamed for my attention. "tat twam asi", "evil crawling i", "approx.purified" and "star damage" all stood out and rocked, but that is less than half the album. the other tracks smouldered slowly and it wasn't until the fifth or sixth airing that it all made sense. then the quality of song such as "walking day", "yellow fever" and in particular "binary 101" start to shine through, burning deep into your mind. i guess the point is that the album as a whole takes time to get into, it's not instant so don't force it, give it space and it will pay dividends.
i am really proud of these blokes, the standard of musicianship here is breathtaking, you can feel the evolution of each and every members talents. karl shows he has an awesome voice that can truly sing as well as cremate with growling intensity. simon's drumming really impresses with not just quality, but also invention. then there's the guitars of oz and joe that range from generating pure energy to crafting passionate character. on top of all that the production is superb, with andy sneap doing a fine job of bringing out the earthtone9 sound without influencing it too much.
my only worries are that people will not give the album the time it deserves. it's just that it may take a little before it gives back and this is something not always considered by today's metal fans. i hope they will realise that a band cannot just keep writing songs around the same format without becoming stale. that's bad for the band, bad for us (the fans) and can often signal the beginning of the end. they have to be able to write what's within themselves, without the constricting boundaries of a genre or expectations, and when they do, then we all benefit with the treasures they produce.
this genre is one that's supposed to be for individually, supporting what's different and standing up for what you believe, yet at times i see some of the most blatant bigotry. don't let yourself be guilty of that, allow the music to expand and evolve, listen to it, give it space and then absorb it. i've found from experience, albums that take very little effort to get in to are the ones that i soon get bored with. the ones that take a few plays before you discover what they're really about are the albums that stay with you for life, the classics, and for me this album has that feel about it! the feel of a classic to be.
tat twam asi - the first track on the album and the lead-in vocals impart you with a reassuring but false sense of security, a gentle melodic skip down a english country lane. then before you can realise, the ground beneath your feet has opened up and you are plunging into a chasm of sound, the intense power of guitars, drums and ripping vocals. plunging to your death, maybe ...'as we move through consciousness'.. but then you are floating on a breath-taking chorus as it latches on to you and entwines itself into your mind and will not let go, it just constricts tighter and tighter.this song is so anthemic, it has a splendid fusion of traditional rock values and modern metal rawness, mixed in a hardcore blender. a song that also works very well in the live environment, it is truly a pleasure to listen to.
evil crawling i - starts with a riff that stalks low in the grass before pouncing on you as the drums kick-in. once pinned down then the vocals just tear out your jugular. the riff remains king until it breaks into a soothing melodic chorus but only for an instant as the jaws of the returning riff sink deeper and the vocals rip still further. the drums throughout keep a pacey rhythm but its the slick cadence change that infiltrates almost at the death, finishing off any remaining desire to struggle.
this track shows a good amount of the earthtone9 we know and love but does hint at the way their music is progressing. one of the more straight forward and aggressive tracks on the album, it will help bridge the gap as more of their new material is played live.
p.r.d chaos - an upbeat riff (almost "u2" in style) opens the song, initially fooling you, before diving into a deep valley of slow atmospheric and moody guitar combined with ghostly vocals, the song turns almost toolesque. gliding on the breeze, a smooth turn and we are quickly soaring high into the air launched from the drums on a driving riff centred around a powerful chorus ...briefly... before returning back to the hollow where the atmosphere is restored. but it's not for long as the zenith makes a gesture and we're heading off toward the skies, powering higher in a steady rhythm before disappearing into a fading light.
definitely a lighter moment, but still keeping it's energy and heaviness, this is the first track to take some assistance from ishmael lewis (liberty 37).
approx. purified - from the outset this is immediately in your face, the anger and aggression pours out giving a deep sense of belligerence, but carrying a majestic atmosphere and then into the (fast becoming) earthtone9 eastern signature. this song is like an intensely enraged englishman on a cheap package holiday in turkey ...
it doesn't apologise for what it is, it pushes you aside if you dare to challenge, but when it calms down it is as gentle as a lamb and looks further than the cheap beer and sunshine.this is more of a straight forward growl, but the mix of violence and ambience on display demonstrates the bands ability to produce more than one dimension in their music. that aggression allows it to play very well in the live environment, and i can see this becoming a crowd favourite. it's a track that has grown more and more on me as i realise it's brute power, to the point where it's tugging at the tails of my favourite two or three.
walking day - a gentle and very melodic beginning, again managing to create a enchanting atmosphere, and building up a gradation of textures in the song including (dare i say it) some stunning vocals. fine melodic guitars, rambling bass lines, tight drum patterns with masses of symbols and all controlled by vocals to die for. there are highs and lows that more than once conclude in a sea of earthtonal feedback.
this is a genuinely well crafted song, layered with skill and it punctuates this album so well. it is a quieter and more mature component, positioned perfectly and helps accentuate the uncontrollable anger and brutal elements that still dominate the album.
star damage (for beginners) - a voice clearly from planet cylon performs the introduction (which goes to show how far this bands popularity has now spread). a cracking riff opens and no messing the band go straight to business, this shows the pure essence of what initially attracted me to earthtone9, the full on aggression and intensity that they produce. if that was not enough, those superb drums, sliding into tempo changes mid-verse just adds a desire to hear it again, as they key the whole sound together with the slickness of the rhythm. but, then there's the chorus, it's so catchy, so memorable, mixing and contrasting with the verse, like pleasure and pain. this is probably my favourite track of the album and it is definitely one of the more easily accessible.
ni9e - this is where we find simon entertaining the cylon that introduced 'star damage'. not just in any fashion, oh no, he generates an almost alien sounding drum fest of sampled madness and not content with that, apparently invites a friend in the semblance of gemma from imogen (ex-chasm). it is here they create a curious hors d'oeuvre for the next track.
yellow fever - for me this shows the second glimpse of tool influence on this album. it's an unhurried smouldering song that takes a winding path, snaking through so many excellent melodies and in doing so building up a tremendous ambience ...'and you can blame the weatherman, but it's pouring down inside'... this is also the second song with a contribution from ishmael lewis (of liberty 37 fame) and this time he has written and performed the vocals. and exceptional they are to, complimenting the album nicely, but giving an extra facet to an already gleaming diamond.
alpha-hi - a solitary guitar opens, then bass and drums enroll into a discharge of sound as the song briefly opens up, before changing for more of the earthtonal eastern feeling. this is the pattern of the song that slowly builds to a climactic crescendo and an abrupt ending, and where the vocals fluctuate between the eastern wailing and gruff middleton growls. if i am honest, i think this is actually my least favourite track, as it doesn't hold my attention and has nothing really outstanding to commend it. it not a bad track, it's just that the standard of this album is phenomenal and it becomes a little jaded in rich company.binary 101 - gentle pulsing guitar notes tentatively feel their way to begin, tendrils that reach out to an exotic and most familiar riff that brings to mind a well thumbed page from the book of dadgad. a curling bass pulls in the vocals, which are full of feeling and emotion. it builds, as a heavier chugging guitar joins and then after opening up briefly it returns to the sonic vocals. smooth and dynamic they touch you ... tonal ... all the time building ... atmospheric, soaring textured chords and complimentary rhythms make the story unfold. some fine fretwork and first-rate vocals adds to the momentum as the crest is reached. then the most spine-tingling riff waves you goodbye and dissolves everything except the drums that are left standing alone.
this is superb and gets better the more i listen to it. an absolute milestone in my book, although atypical for the genre, it just demonstrates the progression of this band. at over 8 minutes long it's a structured and very mature song, another well written piece and a cool classic that brings a gratifying ending to an excellent album.
the album is to contain a substantial booklet that contains a collection of excellent picture panels for the songs and from what i have seen it looks cool.
so, to close another chapter in the book of earthtone9 evolution. a chapter that has unearthed an album that contains a plethora of melody but without losing the important aggression, attitude and power. one that takes a few chances but shows a huge progression both individually and as a band. and one that has produced a damn fine album, an album that i can't recommend highly enough and an album that i'm sure is going to live with me for a long, long time.
boulty's et9 site ~ august 2000 ~ wednesday 2nd august woke up this morning at about 9 am, got down stairs to find i had some post lying on the floor. i opened the first envelope and it contained a cd and it was 'drum roll' arc'tan'gent i was in a total state of shock, i had to re-learn how to breathe, once i had remembered how to breathe i legged it to my stereo and played the cd. i must have listened to the album at least eight time's in a row, this is truly a special album.
first off we have tat twam asi as all of you should have heard off the hi point ep and if not them why not. the album version sounds like a much more polished version of the song, everything is crystal clear from the chanting intro right through the heavy chorus parts. this sounds amazing, i really cannot even think of the words to describe how good this is, it is so good it really had the hairs standing up on the back of my neck. i do kind of miss the screaming part under conciseness but still this track is simply sublime.
next up we have evil crawling i, the band have been playing this song on their recent tour. it starts off with a totally awesome guitar part and then when the rest of the band join in it just gets better, very heavy indeed. with karl screaming his usually incoherent words over the top. the chorus is very melodic with an underlying scream of the last part of it before going back into the verse part. i love the drumming over the verse parts it is very tribal and fits very well. this is one of the heaviest of the album. the song then goes into one of earthtone9's guitar break discordant kind of affair before jumping in with a final verse.
p.r.d chaos comes in with a very cool textured guitar. this is the first with ishmael from liberty 37 on vocals and everyone is going to say this but he sounds very much like maynard of tool, ish is a really good singer, he sings over the verses over the top of some cool effected guitar and cool booming bass. there is also a cool chanting/wailing sound going on in the background. karl sings over the chorus, it is an amazing chorus everything that earthtone9 are about (in my opinion anyway which probably doesn't count for much but anyway i'm digressing), it's melodic, heavy totally uncompromising. i was a bit weary first about bringing in another vocalist but unlike all the americans doing it this isn't a name check thing. this is a truly amazing song.
approx.purified hits you like a brick, it just jumps straight in there, smashing your head against the floor and then forcing you to clean up the blood afterwards. the vocals are so strong karl is screaming straight from the gut throughout most of the song. until the middle section of course which he turns his voice from a throat-tearing scream to an eastern chant. without a doubt the heaviest song on the album. approx.purified literally slows down before walking day starts.
as soon as walking day starts you know it is going to be special it is extremely mellow and for once the bass plays a big part in the song instead of being tucked away like usual. the vocals are very hypnotic what am i on about the whole sound is hypnotic, it just forces you to listen it is very hard to do anything else but listen it encapsulates you which is an amazing felling when a song can do that. the chorus is just wow, karl's voice is just so good i can't believe it the melody is so good and powerful it's hard too explain but it gives me a sort of cold tingle feeling in my face and i just want to shout about how good it is. why don't more people love this band? i would say this is the best song on the album i love this song!!!!!
i think they have got stephen hawkings to guest on the next song star damage (for beginners) just kidding folks but you will know what i mean when you hear it. i love the opening riff on this song it sounds a bit like old et9 kind of like vitriolic hsf in it's style. again this has a very melodic driven chorus that they do so well, not many bands can really get the mix between melody and heaviness right sometimes it can sound out of place or just too plain weak but et9 get it just right.
onto ni9e, this is their most strange and experimental offering to date i'm not sure about what was behind this or who did it but it is very cool. it is very percussive with some reversed guitars in it and other weird sound effects it kind of acts as a build up into the next song which is yellow fever. this song has ishmael contributing all the vocals and lyrics. it is a slow, driving song. it is a song that you really have to listen to, taking in all that the song has to offer and once you do you will see (or should that be hear) that it is an amazing piece of work.
alpha-hi was off the hi point ep and this has been redone to sound totally crisp and clear, the song drives through from start to finish with no real breaks at all, it is very tribal in its delivery. anyway i think you know all about this song so i will shut up.
the last song on the album is binary 101 and it is a really good track to end on lasting a total of 8 minutes 24 seconds this is a long song. not that you would know it when you listen to it, you don't keep looking at the counter to see when it actually finishes in fact i found that when it's over you are left wanting more of it which i find very strange for such a long song. it start with a clean effected guitar after about 50 seconds it is joined with everyone else. the rhythm of the second guitar is not dissimilar to kashmir by led zepplin or wake up by ratm. more and more gets added to this song like a build up until the chorus which is amazing. the song is full of chanting vocals which seem to be becoming a bit of a speciality of karl's. it ends with all the instruments being faded out leaving just si's drums to play. what a song, what an album. i would like to thank jose at copro records and the whole of earthtone9 for sending me a promotional copy of the album i love you all. this bands albums have true longevity in a way like tool or the deftones have unlike the current crop of metal bands from our friends across the atlantic like slipknot and kittie. i could rant about that for ages but i will leave you just saying buy this album, it comes out on the 25th of september so set your clocks.
flathead's (!) et9 site ~ august 2000 ~ ok then the wonderful people earthtone9 were kind enough to advance me a promo copy of the new album arc' tan' gent so i really should have a go at doing a review. don't expect impartiality though, and i apologise if this tends to wander in funny directions cos i just cant write in straight lines.
the tracks 'tat twam asi' and 'alpha-hi' will be familiar to most of us as they have already made an appearance on the 'hi-point' ep. and its safe to say that if you liked them then you'll like them even more now. the song structures are pretty much the same but its like all the rough edges have been polished away. leaving me with a sense that this is the way earthtone9 were always meant to sound.
ive never really been able to pin down the supposed tool link that so many reviewers have ascribed to earthtone9, but with tracks 'p.r.d.chaos' and 'yellow fever' i finally seen what they mean. these tracks have the ethereal sound which is sometimes characteristic of that other band. but these are still et9 songs and damn good ones at that. personally i think that this is where the benefits of the improved production show most clearly as et9's most interesting moments have been the calm parts in between the storms of aggression.
and aggression there is in ample supply too. with tracks like 'approx.purified', with its strange eastern wails and 'evil crawling i'. which kicks off with an intro eerily reminiscent of nirvana of all things. this doesn't last though so worry ye not.
'walking day' is such a fucking ace song, i just cant give an unbiased opinion of this track im afraid as it probably is one of the best things that et9 have ever done in my opinion. sounding a bit like a cranberries song (during the verses) this is not a moshpit classic though, this is the sort of track that gives you tingles down your spine and leaves you wanting more by the time its all over. classic
'star damage (for beginners)' gets back into the fray with fists flying with a killer riff and a trademark et9 melodic chorus.
'ni9e' is a fucking mental track which has et9 completely messing with your head. consisting of a twisted knot of percussion, drum loops, weird samples and backwards guitars you never really expect what comes next'
'binary 101'. the press release that i received with the promo states that tracks like this sounds something like "muscular foo fighters". hmmm.... not too sure about that one. but all the same i can never really describe songs like this as they really don't sound like anyone to my ears, this is an earthtone9 song and that's all that matters. if (when) earthtone9 finally receive the accolades they deserve it will probably be more for tracks like this than anything else they have ever done.
dammit i'm fucking shit at reviewing just go buy the fucking cd and judge for yourself for christ's sake.
yaz zine ~ july 2000 ~well if you've not figured out by now that me doing an earthtone9 review means a new novel, then be warned, this is going to be a rather long new novel. settle in, actually, go and get yourself a coffee and something to eat first.
suitably refreshed? ok, let's go. the first time i listened to this, it sent me to sleep. i should qualify that, it was 3.30am and i was drunk when i first put it in the tape deck, and i normally like to be asleep by that time anyway. but i woke up at 8am (which i really didn't want to do) and first reaction was to push play on the tape and listen to it again. i then must have listened to the album in its entirety at least 8 times that day. which is a lot, especially for me. and the next day. and in the car on the way to work. pretty much on a constant basis really. but that's what this album does. it literally takes over your listening experience. reviews were suspended for at least a week due to the fact that absolutely nothing else got a look in - hey, you can't review what you're not listening to - or can you (i'll leave that one for the more cynical to decide.)
and initially it was literally a tale of 2 halves. see, the first 4 songs on the album have been played live by the band a number of times over the last few months. only 2 of the remaining six were familiar. so for the first few listens there was an imbalance. i knew some of the songs, and so they were more immediate, and you kind of wonder if the reason that the "new" songs are not kicking in so much is down to the quality. and of course, because you recognised them from the live set, you want to really get familiar and close up and personal with them, at the sacrifice of the other tracks sometimes. but perseverance is the key - the album is one that is intended to be consumed as a whole, not bit parts. and so after about 6 listens, those thoughts are dispelled. see, a famous quote in the past was by steve jarvis after the 'tone had supported megadeth. he said that "they have no songs." well, the band must've been praying to the song khazi, cos this time round they're shitting them out like nobodys business.
and as for the songs themselves? well, it starts off with tat twam asi, which was the leadoff track on the recent hi point ep. i wrote loads about it then, so without rehashing all that, it's basically one of the tracks of the year, indeed any year. from the very first time you listen to it, the chorus hits you. it's the most melodic catchy thing the band have done. or that was had done, before this album. there's a few little differences, the chorus has a real choppy little guitar bit, and the drums are thundering this time round. in some ways, it's a strange opener, the chant and drum intro that precludes it is almost a downbeat lead in, but, it sets out the current e9 stall straight away. whereas on the debut there was the almost nu-metal of withered, and it helped set a tone (sorry!) for the album, this does the same. but now there's melody, choruses, a more bolder experimentation of their sound. it's been a while since i first heard the song, and even now, it still sends shivers in a way that reminds me of the shivers that one of my favourite ever songs did, eve of my release by the beyond. 10 years on and that remains an awesome song, tat twam seems to be heading a similar way.
next is evil crawling i, a track they've played live for a while. the opening riff literally uncoils itself before the harsh e9 shines through. no really, uncoil is what it does. i can't think of a more accurate way to describe it. it's tight, it uncoils. it kind of reminds me for some reason of metallica riffs around the black album time (no please, come back. i didn't mean it, surely we can work it out, it's only that opening riff). but even here, it's now tempered with melody throughout. it's in some ways the first indication of the bridge from the old to the new. tat twam will jolt some people, evil at least gives them a chance to calm down somewhat and recover their senses. in that being pretty brutal kind of calm manner. then we get p.r.d. chaos.
ah, yes p.r.d chaos. a priddy chaos indeed. mild mannered and gentlemanly. and the chorus? oh the chorus. it's a chorus to die for, it builds, it chimes, it swaggers, it's melodic, it's got ish from liberty 37 helping out on it. i really wanted to avoid the cliched laziness, but hell, this really does remind me of tool at their finest. it's just got all those perfect ingredients. it's their most accessible, maybe even commercial sound, but in that tool are commercial - yeah right, kind of way. bugger, hitting inability to type anything other than cliches and gibberish mode - it's an awesome song. kicks ass. he the man. dude.
the production of andy sneap takes things to a new level as well. there's more clarity between the instruments, and some of the more hidden guitar parts come through clearer. but unlike a lot of bands, they've managed to be earthtone9 produced by sneap, rather than nameless band sounding like sneap. it's a trap that's there for a number of produces, sneap, ross robinson, rick rubin - the bands end up sounding like the producer rather than themselves. the bass, as is usual with sneap productions, could be a bit more obvious, but having said that, it's still more obvious than on previous e9 albums. the drums have never sounded better. crisp, clear, deep and resonating. in fact, si throws in perhaps the biggest revelation (beaten on a skin drum) of the album. busy, percussive, tribal - there's never a dull moment, and it's that kind of variety that helps set the songs apart from their peers, who seem intent on sticking to one pace, one rhythm. the guitars are still heavy, but there's no need to rely on dripping distortion everywhere to achieve heavy. you can have all the effects in the world, but it doesn't make up for having boring or just plain bad riffs. there's so much invention going on in here, so many parts playing off each other, countering one another. the other obvious growth is in the vocals. karl has never sounded more ferocious, just listen to the way he screams "like a locust" on approx purified - it's so raw yet powerful and controlled, you can almost hear the throat ripping (yes, i know there's probably some vocal effect going on in there as well), but he's developed a confidence in his sense of melody, his ability to create a killer rhythmic chorus and to hold on to the melodic notes that is a joy to listen to. and he's going more with the chanting, mantra like almost eastern sound, like through the middle section of approx purified. the vocals really are a step on, and even more is that in singing, he's got a voice that you can identify immediately, there's a personality in the voice that seems to be missing from a number of vocalists. in fact, the entire band, turn in their best performances to date, si and karl, but also owen and joe on guitars and dave and jamie on bass.
walking day is a multi-textured track, the bass really breaking through in an obvious manner for the first time. there's an almost acoustic sound at the start, a build-up to another melodic part and the song continues to build until suddenly it seems to end drenched in feedback. only for them to pull it all the way back round to the start before its final feedback ending. it's another i guess low key song on first listen, but just grows so much. there's so many things going on you can't take it all in on first listen. and probably everyone listening to the album will have their own favourites, their own parts that move them. because its such a complete rounded album. it's not 1 killer track and then a bunch of fillers. at the end of walking day a voice box chant leads into star damage (for beginners), which seems to be a fairly robust challenge of the star syndrome some people encounter when they become members of successful (in their own lunchtime) bands. it's got some of the more obvious traits of the old e9 sound, but it's still resolutely incorporates the new melodic chorus driven sound of now. but don't worry about all this talk of chorus and melody. it's there, its obviously there, but they've not suddenly decided to take the easy way out, they're not dumb choruses. this is using melody as a weapon, not a crutch.
ni9e is the 9 (as we like to call em, that's when they're not the earthies or the 'tone) at their most off kilter (sorry again!!). it's a kind of percussive drum jam between si and gemma from imogen (formerly chasm). they've taken it and really run it through the mixer so to speak, creating something that on first listen feels out of place, but when you get used to the whole album, fits in that it's doing what they want. to be fair, it's probably the track that will be skipped on the cd when i'm listening for select things, in the same way that the likes of intermission is skipped on tools' aenima. but if you listen to the album as a whole, that's a different matter. oh, and it's one that has to be listened to on headphones. that's when it takes full effect.
ish from liberty 37 contributes all the vocals and lyrics to yellow fever. many bands have done the guest vocalist to death, but not many allow them full control over the song. it's a brave move. it's a slow burning song, different. took a while for it to work with me. but the vocals are so gentle and laid back, there's some sublime melodies going on in there. ish is a great singer, of that there's no doubt. in fact the whole song seems strangely laid back, it doesn't make a grab for you, just sits there waiting for you to come to it. and strangely, after a while you do. it's no quick fix, but the whole album is one that has that knack of interesting you sufficiently on the first listen to entice you back for more. and it's when that happens that it starts to unravel itself and truly unveil its pleasures. it's so rich in that sense that if it was food, it'd be a big cream cake. (sorry, losing it again.) alpha hi is from the high point ep as well. a more tribal offering, a seemingly chanted chorus, and hints of a bit of an iron monkey tribute from karl mid-way through.
binary 101 is the final track. must be honest, it did nothing for me the first couple of times that i listened to it, but that could've been that familiarity with certain songs thing that i mentioned at the start. because with time, this has actually developed into one of the best tracks here. long, it runs to 10 minutes, featuring a main riff that seems to borrow a little from zeppelin's kashmir. but after a while it's a bit like an onion, you keep on peeling away different layers. that main riff underpins it, but there's a lot of other interesting, more subtle effects and riffs going on. it's truly a song to be listened to on headphones just to pick it all up. there's precise riffing giving way to waves of effect driven riffs, that cascade from side to side when you're listening on those headphones. the vocals are more of those almost chanting a mantra like ones, the enunciation drawn out. it's kind of the obvious and perfect way to finish the album. and the build up of the last 3 minutes or so are awesome, it's just a classic sound and riffs.
i guess there's inevitably going to be some cries of sell out, or they've changed, they've mellowed. this time round the harshness and abrasiveness is taking a backseat somewhat. but those people that make the claims are those that somehow fail to realise that the more melodic, ethereal, experimental side of the band has been present on their previous two albums. it's just this time they've really pushed it more, they've pushed the listener more. and in some ways, what could be more challenging, what could be less sell out than actually challenging themselves and the audience. this is the album that earthtone9 needed to make. i think, i guess i hope, it's the album that more importantly, they wanted to make. and if that's the case, no amount of selfishness on behalf of the poor bedraggled punter can ever justify the criticism. if there's a criticism, it might be that the album follows a bit of a mellow song harder song mellow song pattern. but that's trivial. if all the hard stuff was in one go and all the mellow in another, then it'd be unbalanced. i just hope that they manage to make the leap that they've done in the studio when they gig the album. it cries out for the aggressive live performance to now be tempered with the more experimental side of things - which you know they love. if you've seen them live on the tour with kill ii this you'll know their love for feedback, and just basically fucking with peoples ears. as i'm writing this, i've just seen a perfect circle, and though harder than they are, this is almost like a perfect accompaniment to what they're doing. it's the music that does the talking, pure and simple.
this time round earthtone9 have really picked up the challenge. they've managed to create an album that has so much more breadth and scope than anything they've done previously, and which quite honestly in my opinion, has just distanced themselves from the rest of the british scene, including the likes of pitchshifter and one minute silence. for me, it's as important, and more importantly as good an album of it's time and generation as number of the beast was to iron maiden and the whole british heavy metal genre in the 80s. as good and important if you want as master of puppets was. this really is that good and that important. if there's any justice, which there probably isn't, then this should also have a similar impact. this time, it's time to take a chance with something new. to listen to something new. they've received great press for a while. it could well be for a reason. the band have been brave with the album. possibly it's time for you to be brave and take a listen as well? just planting those seeds, just planting those seeds. this is a truly great album. it easily compares with anything coming across from the states - and that includes the great stuff that comes from there. this is an important album. it's an album that you really should hear. you owe it to yourselves, no-one else.
and what's more scary, is that it leaves you wanting more, leaves you thinking that as good as it is, they've not yet created their true masterpiece. there's more to come. this is the album that tests the waters. builds the bridge from the old to the new. they've started the crossing. an album to rejoice to and put a smile and a snarl on the face of british rock music. album of the year - well for me at least, it's going to take some beating.
and so they all lived happily ever after, safe in the knowledge that the third earthtone9 album had brought them a contentment and happiness in life that they never knew existed.
the end.
for more press (on earlier releases and shows) click here...