Ancestors-Neptune with fire

North Atlantic Sound
2008



So often I hear a few minutes of a disc and sigh as I realize that it's doing nothing new and even though it may be well played, it's just hard to get past a lack of originality. Yet sometimes a band can take established influences, tweak them enough and get the arrangement going in such a way that it comes across as feeling surprisingly fresh. Even if the tones are very similar, the way they are presented helps it to take on a life of it's own. The Ancestors fortunately fall into that second category on "Neptune with fire". I was somewhat wary when I saw just two tracks listed on this disc because with just two both really have to be good for the album to be good overall. As far as influences they touch upon the bare bone heaviness of Sabbath, the subtlety of Pentagram and the raw primal sludge of Sleep. As if that was not enough they can produce off the cuff jams and still absolutely fit in with whole feel of the song. Both tracks are fairly long, but it's like the band keeps the ideas coming from all directions. They manage to squeeze so much out of individual notes and manipulate simple parts into feeling like they are doing so much. Their knack for twisting singular sounds into long winding passages is almost unbelievable. The style ties in parts of early metal, solid doom and some stoner elements yet more than anything you just get a sense that they are doing the music that they love. This is an album that manages to be heavy, dark, intriguing and exciting all at once. Seriously no real complaints at all, this is truly an exceptional piece of thickly layered metal that will enthrall your mind and you have hooked after one play.

http://www.myspace.com/fleshintostone