Some of you might remember back in 2013 we reviewed the stunning self-titled debut from Norwegian psychedelic doom act High Priest of Saturn, well, here they are a few years later with their Svart Records follow-up, titled Son of Earth and Sky, and it's no less impressive. The line-up of Merethe Heggset (bass, vocals), Martin Silvertsen (guitar), Andreas Hagen (drums, guitar), and Ole Kristian Malmedal (keyboards) has stayed the same, and this time around they've managed to come up with darker, creepier, and even more menacing sounds to tantalize your senses.
Last time around, we mentioned the possible influence of classic acts such as Black Sabbath, Saint Vitus, Pentagram, Candlemass, and Cathedral, and that's still the case, but with Malmedal's heavy use of ominous organ, you can't help but recall vintage Deep Purple, Iron Butterfly, Uriah Heep, The Doors, and Vanilla Fudge as well. The near 11-minute "Aeolian Dunes" kicks things off in grand fashion, a haunting slice of slow, monstrous riffs, chilling organ, and Hegget's ethereal, floating vocals. Dreamy electric piano and organ seep through bursts of Sabbathian riffs on the lush "Ages Move the Earth", as Hegget again lends her enchanting voice to this psych drenched doom fest. The formula doesn't deviate much for "Son of Earth and Sky", as Ray Manzarek styled electric piano & organ drift and seep around charming vocals and a blazing, bluesy guitar solo, but the pace indeed picks up on the throbbing, crushing "The Warming Moon", a true gem of massive doom that has so much bottom end (that bass!!!) it could shake mountains. Those heavy riffs and equally hefty organ tones collide yet again on the menacing blues rock/doom closer "The Flood of Waters", with yet another scorching lead guitar solo from Silvertsen cutting through the haze of organ like a knife, his foot firmly planted on the wah-wah pedal for maximum effect.
This is some seriously ominous, trippy music here on Son of Earth and Sky, a very cool collection of psychedelic doom tunes that reveals plenty of new flavors with each and every listen. Definitely put this album on your immediate radar when it comes out late February 2016 on Svart Records, the home of all sorts of eclectic sounds.
Track Listing
01 Aeolian Dunes
02 Ages Move The Earth
03 Son Of Earth And Sky
04 The Warming Moon
05 The Flood Of Waters
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