Lacertilia Premiere “At the Edge of Utopia” Video
The seamlessness with which Lacertilia shift into and out of psychedelia on the otherwise hard-driving “At the Edge of Utopia” should tell you what you need to know about the band. The video for the track, premiering below, follows suit, bringing color and lights to the otherwise dark room — it kind of looks like shots of bassist Ed Hughes had to be edited in because the corner he’s in is so void of light — in which the Cardiff five-piece are performing the song. Stated intention is to give a feeling of the energy of Lacertilia‘s live show.
Well, I’ve never had the pleasure, but 2020’s Calling the Quarters only argues in their favor, with “At the Edge of Utopia” the longest track at 7:33 as their sound reminds of Orange Goblin and of course Acrimony on rockers like “Cloaks and Daggers” and “Inside the Circle” even as they move into and out of acoustics for “Furthur” and the interlude-type shorter pieces “Procession of Lost Souls” and “Feral,” the latter working in (kind of problematically) tribalist hand-percussion as well ahead of rolling doom rock closer “So Mote it Be.” They cover a lot of ground and kick a lot of ass in a manageable 37-minute stretch, and the vitality that surges at the front of “At the Edge of Utopia” is emblematic of what they can bring at their most ferocious.
Neither is the psych face that shows itself making its only appearance. Both “Cloak and Dagger” and “Labyrinth” before it preface “At the Edge of Utopia”‘s more subdued movement, though neither pushes quite as far. In contrast, “Inside the Circle” is all-go, a kind of manic hard-heavy that to my Garden Stater ears reminds of Solace. Yes, that is a compliment. “So Mote it Be,” in its final reaches, brings out a kind of spaciousness as well, and that seems to answer not just the opening salvo but “At the Edge of Utopia” as well. One can’t help but wonder too if the optimism of the longest cut’s title isn’t also meeting some resignation in the closer, but that might just be 2020’s utter hopelessness carrying over.
One way or the other, Lacertilia burn.
Find out for yourself in the video below, and enjoy:
Lacertilia, “At the Edge of Utopia” official video premiere
Lacertilia on “At the Edge of Utopia”:
‘At The Edge Of Utopia’ is the third and final single from Lacertilia’s 2020 album ‘Calling The Quarters’. Recorded at Foel Studios in the depths of Mid Wales, the track captures the energy of five primitive humans hurtling towards Nirvana on a ship called planet Earth. The band continue to explore themes of personal growth and change as they traverse the perils of existence in search of a promised land. The video was recorded and edited by Mei Lewis (Mission Photographic) to convey the three distinct sections of the track whilst showcasing the intensity of the band’s live performance.
Lacertilia, Calling the Quarters (2020)
Proper Tidy Records on Thee Facebooks
Proper Tidy Records on Bandcamp
Tags: Calling the Quarters, Cardiff, Lacertilia, Lacertilia Calling the Quarters, Proper Tidy Records, UK, Wales
