Former Worlds
Iterations Of Time
---originally published on Lambgoat---
I won’t pretend to have heard Former Worlds first release, a
seventeen-minute single track titled Photos
Of Eve IX-XVI, when it was released three years ago. I only discovered the groups existence a
couple weeks ago when a new album in my inbox came with the label “Sludgegaze”
attached, and as much as these mish-mashed sub-sub-genre tags irritate me, my
curiosity overtook my general good sense. What could this term encompass that the equally
cringe worthy “Metalgaze” hadn’t already? Did we really need another obscure
denomination to further break down a tiny sub-sect of extreme music? The answer, of course, is definitely not.
But none of that matters, because the Minneapolis based groups
new four song full length is actually really good. Iterations
Of Time is an exercise in bleakness, one shade of black after another. Former Worlds base their sound on a fuzzed
out deep low end, a sort of Jesus Lizard on Quaaludes bass tone that sets a
foundation for everything else to be built upon. But instead of the tried and true formula of
crunchy guitars or stoner grooves, the group expands outward through layers of
synth and noise. The accompaniment lands somewhere between the
swirling sounds of an Acid Mothers Temple freakout and the ominous soundscapes
of such Sci-Fi soundtrack themes as The Terminator or Blade Runner. Which actually makes a lot of sense,
considering the lyrics for Iterations Of
Time are based upon Science Fiction novels.
And like that source material, the album carries with it an
overall dystopian atmosphere. A feeling
of existential dread hangs over each track as the record unfolds. Creative drum patterns fill the space left
between the bass and synth, while raspy screams rise from the dark. The vocals, which avoid monotony by often
employing a dual harsh exchange, even feature a sparsely used palatable clean
tone reminiscent of the calm meditative voice of Bloody Panda’s Yoshiko Ohara. It’s perhaps what metal might sound like on
Isaac Asimov’s Trantor.
But what makes Iterations
Of Time so good isn’t just the gloomy vibe that characterizes Former Worlds
sound; it’s the overall songwriting skill that drives it. Composed and recorded by a group of former
and current members as the band underwent some personnel changes, the album
never sounds like a disjointed effort.
In fact, it’s the exact opposite.
The songs build upon serpentine structures, morphing seamlessly while
establishing themes that rise and fall and return in altered states. With a skilled understanding of when to hold
back and when to let go, Former Worlds have crafted a uniquely original album.
Bottomline: I’m not going to use the bands self-assigned
“Sludgegaze” descriptor; this is just Sludge for all intents and purposes, but
it’s a different kind. Former Worlds
have an interesting and unique approach to the style that sets them apart from
the pack and Iterations Of Time is
well worth your attention.
Former Worlds - Spectre - Iterations Of Time
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