Elder
Biography
**Elder**
In the sprawling landscape of modern progressive rock, few albums have managed to capture the perfect storm of crushing heaviness and cosmic exploration quite like Elder's 2015 masterpiece "Lore." This towering achievement stands as a testament to the Massachusetts trio's remarkable evolution from stoner doom upstarts to one of the most innovative voices in contemporary heavy music. Clocking in at just over an hour across five epic compositions, "Lore" seamlessly weaves together thunderous riffs, intricate instrumental passages, and moments of transcendent beauty that feel like watching galaxies collide in slow motion. The album's opening track "Compendium" immediately establishes the band's expanded sonic palette, building from delicate acoustic fingerpicking to crushing walls of distortion, while the nearly fourteen-minute centerpiece "Dead Roots Stirring" showcases their mastery of dynamic storytelling through purely instrumental means.
Elder emerged from the fertile underground metal scene of New Bedford, Massachusetts in 2006, founded by guitarist and primary songwriter Nick DiSalvo alongside drummer Matt Couto. Initially operating as a power trio with various bassists, the band began their journey firmly planted in the stoner doom tradition, drawing inspiration from genre titans like Sleep, Electric Wizard, and YOB. Their early releases, including the self-titled debut album in 2008 and "Dead Roots Stirring" in 2011, established them as formidable practitioners of crushing, riff-heavy compositions that prioritized atmosphere and groove over flashy technicality.
However, it was the addition of bassist Jack Donovan and the band's gradual incorporation of progressive rock elements that truly set Elder apart from their contemporaries. The seeds of this transformation were already visible on "Dead Roots Stirring," but it was with "Lore" that Elder fully realized their vision of what heavy music could become in the 21st century. The album's success in both critical and commercial terms opened doors to major festival appearances and international touring, establishing them as headliners in the progressive metal world.
Following the triumph of "Lore," Elder continued to push boundaries with 2017's "Reflections of a Floating World," an even more ambitious double album that further explored their progressive tendencies while maintaining their signature heaviness. The record featured longer compositions and more complex arrangements, with tracks like "Sanctuary" and "The Falling Veil" demonstrating their growing confidence in extended instrumental narratives. This period also saw the addition of keyboardist Robert Baird, expanding their sonic possibilities and adding layers of vintage synthesizer textures that recalled the golden age of progressive rock.
The band's 2020 release "Omens" marked another significant evolution, incorporating elements of krautrock and psychedelic music while streamlining their approach to songwriting. Recorded during a period of global uncertainty, the album reflected a more introspective and experimental side of the band, with tracks like "Halcyon" and "One Light Retreating" showcasing their ability to create beauty within heaviness. The addition of guitarist Michael Risberg around this time transformed Elder into a quartet, allowing for even more complex layering and interplay between instruments.
Throughout their career, Elder has garnered critical acclaim from publications ranging from Decibel Magazine to Pitchfork, with "Lore" frequently appearing on year-end and decade-end lists of essential albums. Their influence can be heard in a new generation of bands that blend progressive rock sophistication with metal's power and intensity, helping to define what many critics have termed "post-metal" or "atmospheric metal."
Elder's approach to live performance has become legendary among fans, with their concerts often featuring extended improvisational sections and seamless flowing between songs that create immersive, almost ritualistic experiences. Their ability to translate their complex studio compositions to the live setting has made them sought-after festival headliners across Europe and North America.
Currently, Elder continues to tour internationally while working on new material that promises to further expand their already vast musical palette. DiSalvo has hinted at incorporating even more diverse influences, from ambient electronic music to jazz fusion, suggesting that Elder's journey of musical evolution is far from over. With each release, they continue to redefine what heavy music can be, proving that innovation and crushing power need not be mutually exclusive in the modern musical landscape.
