Elder’s transformation over the past decade has been exciting to follow, as while they may have started off on a more traditional doom and stoner metal path before branching out significantly into prog, psychedelic, and even space rock territory. Since 2017’s Reflections of a Floating World each album has explored a wide range of textures, and there has been a noticeable emphasis on soaring, airier melodies and entrancing atmosphere that recalled a lot of 70s prog and other adjacent genres. For their seventh full-length Through Zero Elder hasn’t drastically reinvented their sound compared to 2022’s Innate Passage, but things have been reshaped and tweaked in ways that make an even greater impact. Whether you’ve followed the group’s journey or are coming in fresh, there’s a lot here that will stand out long after that initial listen.
One of the main things that’s stood out to me about Elder over the years is how they can make long songs seem to go by in half the time. Since there are so many little details and the material ebbs and flows in way that allows for the atmosphere to build without stretching to the point of repetition, their discography has often engaged from beginning to end in ways that other bands can’t match. Through Zero continues this with ease, and it does so in a way that feels like each track is tapping into a different tone and focal point. Opener “Sigil to Ruin” brings back some of the weightiness and crunchier tone that defined the band’s earlier days while still letting the airier melodies and shimmering keyboards take the spotlight and twist the sound into something noticeably spacey. “Capture & Release” then follows that up with sci-fi sounding keyboard arrangements that lead into some of the most vibrant guitar work I’ve heard from the group. The way the guitars and keyboard explode outwards and only seem to gain speed until they’re totally overwhelmed your sense never fails to impress me with each additional listen, and the first half of Through Zero has other moments that have the same impact. Throughout its first four tracks the album once again blurs the lines between the progressive, psychedelic, metallic, and electronic with moments that give off this interesting Hawkwind meets Yes meets Kyuss vibe. Elder’s had that fusion down for a few albums now, but it’s taken further here and it’s exciting to hear how they continue to progress. The last two tracks might be where the material either sticks the landing or comes off as a bit too muted for some listeners, as things pivot to a more exploratory and softer approach. For me this clicked just as much, as “Sight Unseen” has a methodical almost post rock build-up that’s fused with some krautrock repetition, while “Blighted Age” utilizes acoustic guitar and lighter textures in ways that channel a lot of classic psychedelia.
If you listen to Elder’s first few releases, you’ll notice that Nick DiSalvo has a lower pitch and grittier approach to the singing that gives off a tone somewhere between stoner rock and punk. As the band’s sound started to shift DiSalvo’s approach did too, switching over to a lighter and airier tone that often soared above the layers of instrumentation. Admittedly there were some growing pains to this, and you’ll sometimes hear things sound slightly off or lose some steam on Reflections of a Floating World or Omens. I never found it to be an element that took too much away from the group’s music, but comparing the performance on Innate Passage and Through Zero it’s clear how far DiSalvo has come. There’s an increased sense of confidence that has shined through these last two albums, giving the singing the ability to soar as before but retain a sense of power on each verse. I particularly love the harmonized sections on “Capture & Release” and ethereal tone on “Strata”, but there are passages throughout that stand out. Elder also continues to give a lot of space between verses, giving listeners plenty of time to absorb both elements.
Elder has been one of those bands over the years where I found myself asking after every album how they could continue to reach the same high bar with the next one, and each time they’ve managed to do so. Through Zero continues their exploration of progressive and electronic elements without losing some of the heavier, crunchier tones and psychedelic layers, and it does so in ways that further bolster the high flying and more subdued areas of their writing. It’s the type of album with immediate hooks and nuances that jump out at you upon repeat listens, and even seven full lengths in this is a group that continues to blow me away. Through Zero is available from Blues Funeral Recordings, Stickman Records, and Bird's Robe.
-Review by Chris Dahlberg