Review: Elder ‘Through Zero’
One of the highlights of Desertfest London 2025 was not only finally getting to see the Massachusetts-formed, now Berlin-based, stoner, prog and psych rock maestros Elder, but also watching them play the entirety of their critically acclaimed Lore album for the tenth anniversary of its release.
The band morphed from the early stoner/doom sound of their debut to more expansive journeys that formed the basis for subsequent offerings, including the highly praised Innate Passage in 2022. Now, with most of the band located in Germany, they have spent several months recording new material, co-produced and mixed with longtime collaborator Richard Behrens.
This singular approach signals the creative freedom the band have bestowed on themselves, drawing influences from the shine of big stadium rock, subtle nuances, and textures to drive Elder further beyond the boundaries of heavy rock. The result is album number seven, Through Zero. In typical fashion, it clocks in at a hefty fifty-five minutes and is full of twists and turns, managing to somehow operate on a cosmic scale while also dealing with all-too-human struggles.
The title itself borrows from an engineering term regarding a frequency passing through zero from positive into negative, inspiring guitarist and vocalist Nick DiSalvo to look at how we deal with interpretation. Zero is no longer the end of a journey; notions of beginning and end become arbitrary, and reality feels less linear than previously imagined. This is highly fitting for a band who have refused to be defined throughout their career and have never lost their unique identity. When they opened for Tool, it seemed a natural fit and an acknowledgement from the LA titans that Elder should rightly be seen as a leading light in heavy, psych rock.
Through Zero starts with a tentative, droning hum that builds to the moment the band crash in on Sigil To Ruin. Georg Edert thunders behind the drum kit as DiSalvo and Mike Risberg (guitar/keyboards) wind over the rumbling bass of Jack Donovan. This is not only the start of the album, but another ten-minute opening track to set out their stall. Like Catastasis from the previous album, this marks a shedding of the past and a chance for each member to bring their own mastery to work.
The band have long proved that they can summon crushing riffs at will, yet they become far more interesting when they warp their sound to create majestic mixtures of otherworldly serenity. The verses bubble with space-rock flavourings and delicate vocal melodies before the catharsis of the harder sections, where the ride cymbal creates space and a sense of floating. The lyrics deal with internal struggle, but the layers of musical complexity and detours mean that these are viewed as introspective musings, rather than righteous anger.
deceptively heavy, peppered with intense keyboards, crunching riffs, intricate, euphoric solos, and searching vocals…
The strains of synth that herald the start of Capture/Release drip with the bright plink of electronics and an upbeat guitar refrain that repeats over light vocals and dancing melodies. The heavy guitars call back to the harder edge of their earlier material, showing that they are still capable of the muscular, jagged sound of their beginnings. These dual sounds combine to weave a tale of technocratic nightmares, seeking to rediscover a love of human nature and purpose through driving riffs and a soaring chorus. The tumbling instrumentals draw in the keyboards to accent the frenetic guitar, keeping a foot on the gas to push the narrative forward. At times, it is utterly transcendent.
The title track features more gorgeous guitars; its powerful grooves and choppy chugs twist with complex lead sections in a composition that manages to walk the line between dream-like atmospheres and raw power. The lyrics and vocals, which at times in the band’s career have seemed incidental rather than a main draw for me, possess an urgency here DiSalvo contemplates mortality. Another lengthy number, it seeks to form rich tapestries that feel like the soundtrack to a magical journey of exploration into the far-flung corners of the cosmos. Like much of the subject matter on the album, this track tackles the here and now by pointing toward a lofty future of potential.
Strata takes the crown for the longest track on the album. Following a similar formula to the previous song, the main thrust is built around a clever, repeating guitar pattern and echoing synths. These give way to lush meanderings that arrive as freeform expressions of musical joy, begging for total immersion. Like much of their back catalogue, the latest album reveals more on each subsequent listen and is filled with hypnotic detours; triumphant shouts beckon dazzling passages that, in turn, allow the vocals to shine.
The purely instrumental, haunting Sight Unseen creates ethereal atmospherics with tapping drums. It ramps up through various stages of intensity, moving from shoegaze to the chaos of the heaviest moments on the album, before ending in calm serenity after having whipped up a veritable storm moments beforehand.
The shortest and final track, Blighted Age, ends the album with an air of quiet contemplation. Finger scratches on guitar strings, airy vocals, and shuffling electronic beats make for a tender, heartfelt close. The use of electronics is notable for their ability not to intrude, instead sprinkling light and shade over the soft patter of the drums and thoughtful pauses in the notes as a gentle calm washes over you.
Through Zero is a rich and indulgent piece, at times deceptively heavy, peppered with intense keyboards, crunching riffs, intricate, euphoric solos, and searching vocals. There are plenty of moments when you just have to sit back and listen, marvelling at how seamlessly they can change direction and shift your mood in a split second. It is not a concept album, but it remains a complete experience. You can listen to songs in isolation, but the whole piece is warm and enveloping, begging for headphones and an hour of your undivided time.
Label: Stickman Records | Blues Funeral Recordings | Bird’s Robe
Band Links: Official | Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Mark Hunt-Bryden
