Elephant Tree
Habits


4.0
excellent

Review

by Sowing STAFF
April 27th, 2020 | 23 replies


Release Date: 2020 | Tracklist

Review Summary: A world away...another place, another plane

Habits spans enough territory to ensnare the interest of just about any casual metal fan. Post rock-y progressive doom metal with pockets of stunning ambience make this an easy sell regardless of your preferences, and although painting with such a wide brush can make the music difficult to categorize, Elephant Tree have found a way to seamlessly fuse all of their ideas into an atmosphere that is both lush and powerful. It’s a chilled-out, mood-driven odyssey with vast melodic highlights covered in a disorienting ambient glaze. The vocals sway with a sense of distant mourning that haunt the pervading aura, while the guitar riffs are bold and crisp, yet lower in the mix – these half-muted energy gushes that nearly act as a percussive force. The solos that occur are as dreamy and sun-stained as they are technical, floating Habits to some breathtaking panoramic views. Much of the album evokes the sensation of navigating open space, but whether it’s sailing upon calm waters or taking a skydive depends on where you’re at in the experience. As Habits rises to its impressive peaks – some searing, others effervescent – it also willingly detours to verdant-tinged valleys whose acoustic plucks and Celtic fiddles act as oases amid the album’s more blistering overtones. It’s every bit as scenic as you’d hope for an album that fuses the grandiosity of post-rock and the technicality of doom metal with folk flourishes. Elephant Tree have taken the edges of these genres, blurred them, and planted their flag in that fuzzed-out area of overlap. Habits marks a gorgeous, ambitious, and uplifting milestone that will make a believer out of your inner cynic.




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user ratings (68)
3.7
great
other reviews of this album
PsychicChris (4.5)
Elephant Tree’s sound is right where I wanted it to be on Habits...



Comments:Add a Comment 
Sowing
Moderator
April 27th 2020


43943 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Tried something a little different. I wanted to review the album without referencing a single track while maintaining brevity. Also, it's me writing about doom metal, which is something else entirely. Please feel free to provide honest feedback, it's not something I often receive anymore. Also, nice soundoff.

JohnnyoftheWell
Staff Reviewer
April 27th 2020


60305 Comments


Was about to say "will jam, and read after" but there's no excuse for that here ;] Album is sounding p great so far - can see why you like this, and I'm definitely on board with it

"without referencing a single track while maintaining brevity"

This is v much not my personal preference in general, so quite hard to provide feedback. The main point I'd make is that reviews this concise tend to work best when they focus on a single überconcrete impression. Your language is so descriptive, in a way that obvs works great in your usual multipara reviews, but I feel there's so much imagery/sensory vocab of different natures concentrated within that one para that it's quite hard to keep a clear, ongoing sense of the album in mind. I think the less-is-more approach extends beyond the word count - but tbh I'm terrible at this in both aspects and v much respect you giving it a shot. Might do the same sometime, seems like a cool exercise

Sowing
Moderator
April 27th 2020


43943 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

That's a point well taken, I can see how keeping it brief while being so broad with the descriptive language could make this a bit of a mess to follow. The album itself is elusive (it's heavy but makes me feel as light as a feather, and combines multiple genres), so I think I struggled to access a central thesis aside from the fact that it portrays a sense of freedom/openness. I appreciate the feedback; it's definitely something I can aim for if I try this style again.

JohnnyoftheWell
Staff Reviewer
April 27th 2020


60305 Comments


Stoked to see where you go with it! And I get what you mean about the album; their tones are obvs heavy, but it feels weirdly relaxing. Very accessible that way + the last two minutes of this closer spark_much_joy

Sowing
Moderator
April 27th 2020


43943 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Ha yeah, that's my favorite part of the entire album. Quite the unanticipated apex but very much welcome.

insomniac15
Staff Reviewer
April 27th 2020


6176 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Didn't expect to read a Sowing doom metal review. Nice! The album is good, I must listen to it more though. Am I the only one who hears some dreamy Deftones vibes from it?

Sowing
Moderator
April 27th 2020


43943 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I could see that. My mind didn't immediately jump to Deftones but the dreamy atmosphere and wistful clean vocals are a definite overlap.

Slex
April 27th 2020


16528 Comments


Fully support these lil reviews-appreciate the conciseness and it has convinced me to dig deeper with this one

Sowing
Moderator
April 27th 2020


43943 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Thanks Slex! You'd dig this. It's doom metal I suppose but it's just as much if not more atmospheric post-rock with great vocals.

Slex
April 27th 2020


16528 Comments


I was split on my first listen but was distracted, gonna give it a more dedicated listen soon


Ashtiel
April 27th 2020


1470 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

weirdly enough I hear some grunge-esque/90s alt rock guitar passages on a couple of the tracks here.

either that or I don't know what that actually sounds like.

Romulus
April 27th 2020


9109 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

yeah my first thought was deftones-y shoegazey nu-metal (???) - but was a very dope listen through the couple tracks i got through

Dewinged
Staff Reviewer
April 28th 2020


32020 Comments


Ummmmm interesting.

WatchItExplode
April 28th 2020


10451 Comments


"The main point I'd make is that reviews this concise tend to work best when they focus on a single überconcrete impression."

You know...a Bighans rev ; )


Comatorium.
April 28th 2020


5043 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

This album is siiiiick

BenThatsMyJamin
April 28th 2020


4012 Comments


Have been listening to the singles for past couple of months; even though they're quite generic they're nicely done. Pretty straight-up Deftones/Torche-y alt metal, not rly any doom apart from the guitar tone, but maybe the deeper cuts will offer some surprises. Looking forward to listening!

greg84
Emeritus
April 28th 2020


7654 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Good album. It sounds like a cross between Torche and Mars Red Sky to me.

rodrigo90
April 28th 2020


7387 Comments


First we got porcupine tree

Now we have elephant tree

FuzzyThoughts
April 30th 2020


114 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Enjoyable album, we'll see if it grows on me any more.

FuzzyThoughts
April 30th 2020


114 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

[double post]



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