This last band is based in my old hometown of Austin, Texas. I heard from them by e-mail, and in addition to their locale I was further tempted to check out their music when I learned that they are a concept band (not simply a band writing concept albums or songs), and that the concept consists of original science fiction stories they wrote themselves (about which more can be learned here). So, hometown appeal and sci-fi nerd kinship, and that was all I needed.
The band have a “pay what you want” album on Bandcamp named Titan. So far I’ve only listened to the first two songs — which total more than 20 minutes — but man, I’m impressed. The opening riff in “Whispers and Dust” is an immediate head-grabber, and from there the music pulls you along on a hell of ride that takes you not only through a desert of riff-driven stoner/sludge/doom but also out into the space lanes. The music is both powerfully heavy and densely atmospheric. The crushing riffs are irresistible, the drumwork is explosive, and the vocals are appealingly gritty and thoroughly impassioned.
I know we have a lot of Beastwars fans in the audience. You folks, especially, are going to eat this up:
it’s always nice when you’re listening to something new, and after a while you say: Hey, I like this stuff! The minutes pass, the music goes, the feeling and the attention increase, and soon the big sphere of metal enfolds you. It happened to me recently with Antero Sleeps and their debut album, Titan, which has been around for almost a year. It opens withWhispers and Stardust, a seven-minute track of well crafted and well paced sludge/doom: the combination of big, hoarse guitar, submerged bass and assaulting drums I always like. Then The Fall of Gellar Elias starts, and it’s as if the landscape widens – the harmonic, timbral and dynamic landscape: a run of thirteen minutes, with accelerations and sudden stops, reprises and jabs (great riff at 2’51″). An excellent song that fades intoTransformation, the acoustic keystone of the album (it would be interesting to hear it in an electric and distorted version). Not less beautiful is Calimbian Flight, which struck me with its strong propulsion and broad heaviness (and its clear echoes of beloved Yob). Funeral Dirge is the final act, the epic conclusion of Titan’s journey, or perhaps another kind of beginning. The territory, and the sound, in which Antero Sleeps dare to go may be not new or unknown, but that’s not important for me: they are not towed, they are tuning their personal engine, they are telling stories, and I follow them willingly.
Out of the big state of Texas comes the big concepts of Antero Sleeps. A band that combines original Sci-Fi stories with Sludgy DOOM. As it says on their Bandcamp,
In a different age, there was a planet populated by genetically perfect people. They lived in peace until an accidental discovery, on a distant moon, unearthed an alien weapon that threatened to destroy them all. We are telling their stories.
Indeed they do. With songs that are packed with power and emotion. Each song feeling like it’s own chapter. Atmosphere is something they are going for and there is tons of it. Calling to mind bands like Neurosis. Songs are sprawling landscapes built by the notes played. The guitar chugs and buzz’s away along side throbbing bass and pounding drums. Vocals are harsh throaty yells. The music is infectious and in no time you find your head bobbing with it. No song under 5 minutes and thanks to all the twist and turns within, no song feels overdone or too long. No matter how heavy they get there seems to be an underlying beauty to it all.
This is a band that is perfect for fans of Yob, Neurosis, and early Mastodon. These guys have the music and the concept, and when combined they have something that really can set them apart from the pack.
I guess it helps that I happen to be a huge fan of all things space, so this review may be a bit biased on that case. I should not that I also tried to crash out while first listening to this album and ultimately failed. Titan by Antero Sleeps does not leave any room for rest. While only five songs almost all are over 7 minutes in length making each song leave its mark before the next takes over. First track “Whispers and Stardust” preps you for the interstellar madness that will indeed ensue. The melody while soothing at times packs a powerful punch during others and is carried by the lead vocals that are almost a gruffer more intense version of Wayne Static. “The Fall of Gellar Elias” is a 13+ minute epic that doesn't bore; it locks in smooth and carries all the way through. “Transformation” has a slower and more peaceful sound that helped me get back into a more melodic state of mind. “Calimbian Flight” tells a more confrontational side to the story they’ve been building up with these songs and is by far my favorite. This leaves us with the conclusion, “The Funeral Dirge.” The mighty conclusion is the longest running track but is by far the best put together. The inevitable end is never easy, but if you’re going to go out you damned well better believe it’s going to be with a bang. I have read the lyrics to each song and have to say I’m hooked. As a somewhat writer, storytelling in songs have always given me the warm fuzzies. I was even more pleased to see that the band has full-blown stories written that go help enhance the music and better understand the songs on a whole new level. I have to say I am deeply impressed with this band on every level and eagerly await any new material be it written story or musical. - Alex Martinez
The concept might sound original at first, but the music of this trio, which has been around since 2009, is clearly not. Antero Sleeps combine a rather ambitious science fiction story (obviously set on Titan) with sludgy Doom Rock as you know it from High On Fire and earlier Mastodon. What you get here are aliens, genetic mutation, military hunt and a lot of stereotyped drama as far as the plot is concerned. Plodding along in a subtly melodic manner, "Whispers And Stardust“ opens up quite bleakly with hoarse vocals and no compelling motif at all, but turns out to be kind of an intro to "The Fall Of Gellar Elias“ (one of the characters) the first of two key songs with a length of roughly a quarter hour each. Antero Sleeps start off with a minimalistic arrangement, nicely shifting between harmonious and dissonant chords that make for a moody atmosphere instead of a memorable tune. The vocals, partly screamed, add to this impression, and in case the whole story leaves you entirely cold, the song will do so as well, notwithstanding a picturesque interlude without distortion and the expectedly more vehement ending.
"Transformation“ serves as another interlude in itself, this time on strummed acoustic guitar with a droning echo behind it. Here, the decent production helps enforce an intimate ambience, which is what such a breather should do in the first place, so this track is a winner, the more so as it calmly segues into "Calimbian Flight“. With this grooving behemoth (crawling up a Post Rock wall of sound), Antero Sleeps don't submit the most diverse tune either, but the main riff and lyrics, which are pronounced more clearly, proove that the band is capable of writing distinct songs.
For this album, it shall remain the only one, as closer "The Funeral Dirge“, the other 15 minute epic, gets drawn out too long, admittedly with beautifully shimmering open chords and melodic ideas which point towards a future that may have more remarkable music in store. For now, Antero Sleeps are no nuisance, but solid emulators of a well-known sound and thus redundant.
One of the best albums I have listened to in a long time. If you like any sub category of doom metal/rock, you need to check this out. This band from Austin, Texas is going somewhere big and soon. A heavy but melodic blend of the funeral doom sound but with a stoner/psychedelic feel. This is metal that tells a story. If you watch their lyric videos on youtube you will see what I mean. It's really pretty slick how they get you right into the story through the use of a video who's only purpose is to make you read. Individually the songs are standalone masterpieces, but together (and combined with video) they are pretty epic. The music grabs your attention but the story draws you in. If they tour anywhere near you, or if you are from Austin, do me a favor and go see them.......jED\m/