Earth Flight "Riverdragons & Elephant Dreams" 2018 Germany Heavy Prog
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2018 album by this German progrock band. This is totally amazing songwriting combined with grand superior vocals that gives a very own note to all the songs. Listening to this record you have the feeling that the complex multilayered songs are incessantly scratching the throne of the genre tycoons…..~
EARTH FLIGHT sound brighter and warmer in 2018 than ever. The sound is playful, but not twisted - with a natural hardness that does not matter or settle for a second. The band surprises with elegant dinghies in the direction of pop and psychedelica and even with electronic flashes of color, but without losing sight of the direction even for a moment. Confident in style, the song is always the focus…..~
EARTH FLIGHT is a heavy progressive rock band formed during 2004 in Nuremberg, Germany by bassist Martin STULLEIN, drummer Sebastian ENGELHARDT, guitarist Andreas BLENDINGER and vocalist Tobias BRUNNER. Deriving their name from a song by American doom metal act Pentagram, the group debuted with their self-titled EP in 2005 which displayed this foursome’s unique blend of doom metal, 70s hard rock and psych. They went on to release a live album the following year as well as a first full-length studio album (also self-titled) in 2007.
After the first album, founding member STULLEIN left the band and EARTH FLIGHT recruited Benjamin MULLER on bass. In 2008, a second EP simply titled ‘Demo 2008’ came out and in 2009 founding drummer ENGELHARDT left to be replaced by Michale “dudu” TUTTOR. Finally in 2011, the follow-up album 'Blue Hour Confessions’ was released and EARTH FLIGHT played over 60 shows in 8 European countries continuing to progress in their fresh sound. ….~
One is an integral part of the Nuremberg Progressive Rock Combo Earth Flight ! Namely the enormous ladle sadness and melancholy. Of course, you dear readers could believe right now, what fickle material does the reviewer want to rub under your nose? None, yet the component of the melancholy within the album is a very solid one. Nevertheless, the troop never dares step into the too depressive area. The color shade is like a filter of pastel colors. The perfect bliss is not this. Rather, a progressive entertainment, which draws relish their protestant tracks.
The sound experiments are not clearly attributable to an age and this, although many scene colleagues build on a concept that is anchored in the 70s. The present troupe refuses this, at least clearly classified sound. Certain cornerstones may be present, only the bandtross is able to combine a wide range of sound elements from all eras into a successful progressive rock experiment. The mosaic pieces are rich and at no time does the band overrun you with a spell of complexity.
Balance and lots of inventiveness are all around with this band and their music. Successful bracing can be heard loud and the interest was skilfully increased. BLACK SABBATH, EMERSON, LAKE AND PALMER meet a modern version of DREAM THEATER . Exactly this mention of such a mixture comes in my opinion most likely when it comes to comparing the band with their music with anyone. Probably because of this, unequivocal time ranking is not possible because the band, with their own innovation, has managed to nourish their material from a wide period of progressive rock.
Many tonalities in their band catacomb make for a captivating sound that has been wonderfully enriched with many echoing games. All these gimmicks were mixed into a concept that was easy to pick up, so the Proggie did not need a long time to travel to the Nuernberg sound universe.
Conclusion: A considerable amount of own integrity and many subtleties make up the sound concept of “Riverdragons & Elephant Dreams” ….by…by: Robert….~
Is EARTH FLIGHT now flying over the ground for a flight? Or rather for the escape of the same? Anyway, escapism can definitely be done with the new album “Riverdragons & Elephant Dreams”.
The Nurembergers have made themselves comfortable in their niche somewhere between Progressive Rock and Stoner and take the inclined listener with them into their world, in which even elephants become light as a feather and river kites produce tidal waves from guitar walls, which carry everything with them.
While “Ulysses” at the beginning is still rather undecided by slight sound formations, “Mirai” breaks the future - with a look back. Like “Sinus” and “Bedlam”, the piece takes a lot of time to expand its soundscapes, which could be mostly from the seventies. Wafting guitars, endless guitar solos and synth accompaniment are reminiscent of BLACK SABBATH, EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER and PINK FLOYD. But in between, even modern bonds sneak in: There you can hear the guitar playing of DREAM THEATER’s John Petrucci, somewhere else the vocals sound like MUSE (“Harbinger”).
Nevertheless, the fiver on his third full-length album has created something unique and interwoven these influences so skillfully and the melancholy flair skilfully put into the modern age, that one drifts away again and again with the music. And with the beautiful artwork of the record offers a very valuable overall picture……by….Martin Storf….~
This is totally amazing songwriting combined with grand superior vocals that gives a very own note to all the songs. Listening to this record you have the feeling that the complex multilayered songs are incessantly scratching the throne of the genre tycoons.
This is sounds to stick listen to! The whole picture is what is important, not the easy listening hook! Music for people who like to stand up and turn around! This album was made for vinyl! ….~
The band Earth Flight spoke in an interview a little while ago (actually several years ago!), That it also makes progressive music, but one does not want to lose sight of the relaxation. That is the Franks eloquently succeeded with “Riverdragons & Elephant Dreams”. Sometimes calmly melancholic, sometimes poppy, sometimes hard rocking and then again easy to roam psychedelic realms without becoming fricky or the feeling that no degree was / could be found. This mix has not come to my ears in this form so far, the band has truly outdone it in the case and skin a light weight pound on the counters of record dealers, which I actually like better than vinyl because the matching atmospheres are getting anytime created. Here simply has “warm flair” ago. What ultimately does not change the overall quality, the current turner could push the band a few levels higher in Göttermusikgefilde, although it is hopefully perceived by enough music lovers.
Conclusion: Earth Flight have just under 7 years after the last album finished a well thought-out album, which sounds not only varied but also very well produced. Whoever turned the knobs knew that a band can only work as a band and sound the same - with no exceptions for ego guitars, ego drums, ego vocals, ego bass and so on. Here the whole package works! And if that takes just 7 years, then I’m looking forward to the year 2025 … and until then I would like to be able to enjoy “Riverdragons & Elephant Dreams” not only as a vinyl edition but also live on stage. Definitely check … Drama is trump!….by…Thorsten Jünemann…~
What a beautiful cover! This must be pushed forward in any case, even if this of course does not diminish the musical performance of the Würzburg Quintet, which with “Riverdragons & Elephant Dreams” after seven years album break freshly strengthened and almost completely renewed attacks.
“One PINK FLOYD memory solo after another”
The ex-Doomer are more versatile than on the predecessor “Blue Hour Confessions” and offer a colorful, versatile mixture of progressive rock that likes to dig in the 70s, Swedish melancholy, metallic paint, last doom shreds and alternative [MUSE sometimes greet], modern and retro at the same time. Guitarist Benjamin Rodigas is definitely an audible big fan of David Gilmour and takes out one PINK FLOYD memory solo after another. In general, Rodigas is the one who lends even more extra-soft songs, cool riffs and well-thought-out solos to the often overly long songs than they already have. Hear and admire, for example, the Wall Of Sound “Sinus”, the great moment of “Riverdragons & Elephant Dreams”.
EARTH FLIGHT has succeeded with her third disc a pearl, as one may admire them in German lands both stylistically and qualitatively too infrequently. It would be really a shame if the band would let themselves go for another seven years for the next record…..by…Michael Siegl….~
Line-up:
Tobias Brunner - Voals
Benjamin Rodigas - Guitar
Benjamin Müller - Bass
Sebastian Hudl - Synth
Markus Kühn - Drums, Keys (6)
Tracklist:
1. Ulysses (1:52)
2. Mirai (8:20)
3. Harbinger (6:30)
4. Sinus (8:50)
5. Premonition (5:56)
6. Tempter (7:46)
7. Bedlam (9:28)