Review Summary: "...as much speaker-blasting headbangy gnar-ness as oppurtunity for a more introspective listen."
As the great multitude of various subdivisions of musical genres begin to expose themselves to the mainstream and then proliferate, we begin to notice a trend. In addition to the music growing in a new direction as the scene expands, some groups shy from the more accepted sounds and present something entirely their own. Where progressive meets stoner,
Ancestors craft an original and striking record with “In Dreams And Time”.
“In Dreams and Time”, which is sure to be a contender for album of the year for many, is a record of triumph and acceptance of challenge, a confident proclamation of the power of experienced songcraft fused with an excellent grasp of a unique sound, dense with nuanced textures. As the opener begins, the twin guitar work begins to rhythmically pound the listener with thick slabs of fuzzed-out stonerdom. Wailing vocals soar above the mix in a style not unlike Torche, while sometimes opting instead for a more aggressive metal roar. The bass is well featured in the mix, exhibiting a progressive-rock-minded tonal clarity with a very groove-centric playstyle. The drums, while simple, also help keep things grounded in a very matter-of-fact manner, while throwing some great fills into the mix. The effects are the real draw here, though. Loud organ work dripping in psychedelica perfectly hangs over the soundscape, tastefully flavoring the music without becoming overbearing.
Ancestors have often been compared in a very favorable light to Pink Floyd, and with only fifteen seconds of preview, it can't be hard to see why.
Flow is another serious plus for this album, as each track falls perfectly into place beside each other, giving the record a ton of replay value. Opener “Whispers” features bombastic drum work under synth effects and some superb vocal phrasing. The sound for most of the record is absolutely mythological. The closer “First Light” enjoys ten-plus minutes of organ worship, it quickly but effortlessly bridges into soft and somber chords before diving into a full-on stoner anthem, none of which is anything but inevitable.
While challenging, “In Dreams and Time” is an excellent record for the patient listener, providing a thickly layered prog-stoner experience that will
Ancestors fans will immediately recognize. At once fuzzy and focused, featuring warbly mellotron as much as downtuned guitar work, “In Dreams and Time” is a completely unique listen, novel in the sense it provides as much speaker-blasting headbangy gnar-ness as oppurtunity for a more introspective listen.
