| Share (CD) | 2002 | Meteorcity |
Following on the heels of their widely hailed Y2K debut, 'Spiritualized D.', 'Share' is more diverse and gives us a better idea what Eternal Elysium are capable of. The trad. Doom that has put them at the top of Japan's old school (along with Church of Misery) is still much in evidence, but it doesn't stop there. This is one of the most psychedelic doom albums I've ever heard. There's a solid stoner vibe mixed in as well, and some elements that defy classification. 'Schizy' leads off with some hard-charging doom, replete with rhythmic changes and treated vocals. 'Feel the Heat' has an ass-kicking, up-tempo stoner groove, and 'Movements and Vibes' actually enters the realm of funk. But don't worry, it's in a good way, OK? My personal favorite is 'Waiting for the Sun.' At over 9 minutes, it's the longest tune on the album and features a Cathedral-esque lurching doomy blues groove, theatrical vocals, and a guitar that slays, but not before pounding your head repeatedly against the nearest flat surface. 'No Answer' features some slide guitar reminiscent of the finest moments on their debut album. Hell, this is some of the best slide phrasing since David Gilmour's work in the 70s! And I can continue the Pink Floyd comparison with 'Fairies Never Sleep,' which has vocals weird enough to bring Roger Waters to mind, at least when he was experimental and interesting.
There's plenty of variety to get into with this one, but it's first and foremost a doom album that any old-schooler will love. Fans of anything from Deep Purple to Cathedral to Pink Floyd will dig it. Drop a tab and get bludgeoned.
1. Schizy
2. Feel the Beat
3. Movements and Vibes
4. Waiting for the Sun
5. Machine
6. No Answer
7. Love is All
8. Dogma
9. Fairies Never Sleep
Approx. 53 minutes
| Searching Low & High (CD) | 2005 | Leaf Hound |
'Searching Low & High' has founder, vocalist and guitarist Yukito Okazaki in finer form than we've heard for years, better IMO than 2001's 'Share' and in the same league as that classic slab of psychedelic mindfunk, 'Spiritualized D'. Heaviness and variety are the watchwords here, all with the recognisable EE crunching blues/psych/prog/doom sound oozing from every note. This go 'round American Tana Hugo is on bass and vocals, and a fine and unexpectedly simpatico addition she is. Antonio Ishikawa is more than a match for the musical tripping as the lazer hits the pits. 'Not So Far' is spacey doom with epic vocals and a tasty fast guitar break; 'Twilight High' is psychedelic doom like you like it; the poetically titled 'Approaching Stranger on the Electric Trail of Dreams' has majestic spaciness galore, and 'No Isolation' is a Monster Magnet-style punisher. Believe me its all good, although the psilocybin pop of 'Before the Morning Comes' sounds just a big too accessible to these ears. It all turns into a dayglow meltdown on the glorious 16+ minute 'Green Song', an anthem to all Eternal Elysium stands for, with a feast of heavy riffage morphing into thunderous doom chords and atmospheric freakouts. Don't take the brown acid!
This album was produced at Donner & Blitzen studio, utilized by such talents as Fatso Jetson, Brant Bjork, and earthlings?. Perhaps that explains the ventures into the poppier side of things. In any event, Eternal Elysium has produced a wonderful chunk of craftsmanship, loaded with groove and the highest level of musical ability. It's Tommy Bolin with a pentagram tattoo, Grand Funk on intelligence enhancers, it's Cream, Acid King, Atomic Bitchwax, Soundgarden, and MM mixed in a witch's cauldron and served up heavy on the brain-melting alkaloids. The quest is over - for now - and the heavy joy is yours for the taking. These sound paintings will expand your mind!
1. Reefer Happiness
2. Not So Far
3. Hazy Sublime
4. Twilight High
5. Approaching Stranger on the Electric Trail of Dreams
6. No Isolation
7. Before the Morning Comes
8. Green Song
Approx. 53 minutes