Formed in the late 80s in Seattle, Earth was a reaction to what was becoming the grunge scene. Rock and roll was alive and well with the grit found in Mudhoney and the near pop sensibilities of The Fluid or the sheer recklessness of Nirvana. What these bands lacked in talent, they made up for in determination. Earth changed all of that. They added passion to an already diluted scene. They were playing these songs because no one else was going to. And it worked for Carlson. Angels of Darkness marks the 6th album in addition to countless EPs and live records in 20 years of the band. Drone as a music genre wouldn t exist without Earth..You don t have to look any further than Sun O))), who started out as a tribute to the band, and took their name from the Sunn amps they used. It s fitting then that the new album is on Southern Lord (which is Sunn O))) owned and operated). Gone are the blistering wall shakiness and the rumbles of yesteryear. This is a new Earth, one that builds sonic landscapes for the mind to wander in, attempting to deconstruct what was previously known about the bands legacy. Angels builds a story brick by brick, note by note, adding pieces and layering till you are spent. It s not based on an aural explosion anymore. Quiet is the new loud for Earth 2.0. By the time the listener finds themselves on the last of the five tracks they have taken a journey across deserts and oceans with Carlson and Earth, in sparse minimalist grooves that capture creativity and flow. Lori Goldston s cello lays thick syrupy baritone lines following Carlson s delicate fingers on the guitar. They hit their stride in the title track, the epic 20-minute song, Angels of Darkness, Demons Of Light 1. The power and intensity isn t found in feedback, but in a slow building anticipation of what s to come. It s an acoustic mood swing of sorts, with the constant push-pull relationship between the guitar and cello. What Earth has built with Angels of Darkness, Demons Of Light 1 is an amazing record. Not their best by any means, but one that can stand alongside any of the companion pieces that have preceded it. It s one that they should feel proud about. They fish out sounds that are just ideas to most people. I hope that doesn t end anytime soon. -Andrew Richardson