Coming off their respective debut albums, Nova Scotian cosmic rockers Earth Altar and Toronto sometimes-gonna-doom-but-just-as-likely-to-psych-jam trio Sun Below — whose very monikers seem to tell the story about space, worship, and exploration that pans out in their songs — will issue their joint Inter Terra Solis split LP through Black Throne Productions on Sept. 15. The offering brings together the two Canadian bands for a showcase that runs 40 minutes and gives each act time to make an impression on their respective side, Earth Altar presenting five songs (four and an interlude) in a narrative arc while Sun Below donate two longer tracks and their own interlude heavy jam between. What draws them together across Inter Terra Solis is a shared affinity for melding different styles from under the umbrella of capital-‘h’ Heavy.

The sans-guitar configuration of Earth Altar, with bassist/vocalist Spencer Trout, drummer/vocalist Jon MacIsaac and maybe synthesist/keyboardist/vocalist Katie Wayne — not listed as a member, but there’s definitely synth on the tracks; hence “maybe” — lends an immediately individual feel to their “The Descent” at the outset of the split, bass and drums unfolding in proggy contemplation while higher-end melodies float over top. Never quite tipping over to cinema-style evocation, they are atmospheric just the same, and hypnotic in the circular movement of the basslines, which hint toward a Sabbathism that Sun Below will soon bear out, but give over first to the brighter-hued unfurling of “The Garden of Earthly Delights,” a play of interwoven loops that might just cure your headache keeping largely to its singular procession before the music seems to lie down and stretch out; a savasana moment conveyed through tempo relaxation.

That exhale carries over into the aptly-named 48-second “Interlude,” which sweeps via synth/keys into “In the Growing Light of Anthelion,” which builds tension through a series of beeps that might be Morse Code before digging deeper into a heavy psychedelic movement that calls to mind a not-instrumental version — vocals are used mostly atmospherically, but they exist — of earliest My Sleeping Karma highlighting a Colour Haze influence. The direction is plotted, the journey engaging, and the bassline no less righteous as the second half grows more melodic and the vocals seem to dissipate. Carrying directly into “Transmutation (The Alchemist’s Dream),” Earth Altar follow the pattern of technical nuance and overarching shroomy serenity, capping in a manner that feels resolved even before the synth drone at the finish starts to fade away to the stretch of silence at the song’s end.

It is from there that Sun Below‘s “Red Giant” rises, guitar of Jason Craig (also vocals) howling immediately as if to remind the listener that those things exist. Drummer Will Adams thudding away on his toms behind, bassist Liam “Acid Goblin” Gray — who wins outright as regards nicknames and not just because he’s the only one who has one here — finds room in the mix to make an impression of his own as the riff solidifies and the forward roll begins in earnest. “Red Giant” and closing track “Gravity Tide” both top eight minutes long, and the interlude “Methuselah Star” (2:16) does well to separate them so that the listener doesn’t get any more lost than they might want in the also-mostly-instrumental lumber of the one and then the other, though as might happen when one band has a guitar and one band doesn’t on a split release, Sun Below come across as more riff-based, even as they hold onto some of the spontaneous feel that made Earth Altar‘s work so enticing.

Sabbath is an undercurrent in the leads throughout the second half of “Red Giant,” but “Methuselah Star” seems to speak more in tone and groove to Sleep circa The Sciences, and after it marches out slowly but surely, “Gravity Tide” answers that with an immediately Pikean nod which the band duly rides for most of the first half of the track, vocals buried but echoing when they arrive, cadenced to match the Sleep vibe. It is nonetheless an impressive wall of fuzz they build — sturdy and declarative — and the wall is the point. Sometimes you write a riff that you might want to play for eight minutes, and sometimes you work a little “War Pigs” in there too in the later layers of lead guitar. With Gray splatter-bassing distortion behind and Adams‘ snare punching through with its own admirably dense tonality, “Gravity Tide” is brought to a conclusion no more forced than was anything prior; the unspoken theme of their time an instrumental chemistry on ready display.

I will not claim to have any insight on what either Earth Altar or Sun Below have planned next, if anything. Earth Altar‘s self-titled debut — which they issued as a trio — came out in May 2022, and Sun Below‘s sprawling self-titled (review here) was issued in late 2021, collecting numerous jams from prior short releases and new material. Whatever the future brings for compatriots, they take advantage of the chance on Inter Terra Solis to complement each other’s work without accomplishing the same ends musically — that is, they fit well together without sounding the same — and if the goal here is to give listeners fodder for digging further back into the standalone records and other sundry jams (all of which are of course streaming and immediately available because while the world is terrible the future is also amazing), then both bands succeed outright. You might end up surprised at some of the places Inter Terra Solis puts you.

As it’s a September release, obviously it’s too early to stream the entire split, but I’ve been given permission to host Earth Altar‘s “The Descent” as the first single, and you’ll find it below, followed by more info from the PR wire.

Please enjoy:

Preorder link: https://blackthroneproductions.com/en-us/products/inter-terra-solis-black-hole-vinyl-earth-altar-sun-below

The progressive space rock/doom metal hybrid EARTH ALTAR and heavy stoner/doom power trio SUN BELOW unleash a riff-heavy journey across time and the cosmos on their upcoming split album Inter Terra Solis. Having sculpted an epic ride of distorted guitar, vocals and trippy lyrics, the bands explore the labyrinth of the human psyche and the unpredictability of the universe within a ponderous palette of crushing doom and stoner-tinged mystery. The Inter Terra Solis is due out on September 15th via Black Throne Productions.

First on the split, EARTH ALTAR is the interplay between the complex, diverse drum style of Jon MacIsaac and the unique, ethereal bass guitar playing of Spencer Trout. EARTH ALTAR seeks to leave these mundane bonds and ascend through the heavy and the other-worldly. Mixing stoner rock, doom metal, space rock, and psych rock with progressive song structures, cosmic musings, and world-wide influences; EARTH ALTAR sounds uniquely themselves.

Closing out the album with three immense tracks, SUN BELOW is a heavy stoner/doom power trio playing a signature brand of self-described “Sativa rock”: a combination of fuzz, volume, and heavy grooves. SUN BELOW seek to spread their infectious, rollicking sound to the masses and their mission remains to create riff heavy rock fused with the sonic weight of crushing doom. The current lineup of Jason Craig (guitars/vocals), Liam “Acid Goblin” Gray (bass) and Will Adams (drums) blend these elements into long burning jams that worship at the altar of tone, riffs, and smoke.

As above, so below, the duality of the underworld and the cosmos, the microcosm and the macrocosm is thoroughly traversed through the lyrical themes and tones of each band. While EARTH ALTAR and SUN BELOW tackle a different aspect of our reality and nature, each is intimately tied with the other.

Inter Terra Solis Track Listing:
Earth Altar – The Descent
Earth Altar – The Garden of Earthly Delights
Earth Altar – Interlude
Earth Altar – In The Growing Light Of Anthelion
Earth Altar – Transmutation (The Alchemist’s Dream)
Sun Below – Red Giant
Sun Below – Methuselah Star (Interlude)
Sun Below – Gravity Tide

Earth Altar on Bandcamp

Earth Altar on Instagram

Earth Altar on Facebook

Earth Altar on Spotify

Sun Below on Bandcamp

Sun Below on Instagram

Sun Below on Facebook

Sun Below on Spotify

Black Throne Productions on Instagram

Black Throne Productions on Facebook

Black Throne Productions website

Black Throne Productions linktr.ee

Tags: Black Throne Productions, Canada, Earth Altar, Earth Altar Sun Below Inter Terra Solis Split, Halifax, Inter Terra Solis, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Sun Below, Toronto

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 23rd, 2023 at 8:54 am and is filed under audiObelisk, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.