We’ve only addressed Ancestors directly on the blog once, and that was in a Best Of list. This is a crime and more than that, it’s absurd seeing as they are probably my number one favorite band of all time. Yeah, I said it. Ancestors have three albums and an EP but in that short discography can be found a wealth of music that rivals that of bands with three times their output. Their music can be described as equal parts stoner and doom, straddling the lines of fuzzy riffs and ponderous bass. Their penchant for long tracks and intricate lyrical concepts places them slightly more towards the doom direction although it’s impossible to ignore the stoner guitar tone. Head on over the jump for a taste (or two):
In Dreams and Time from 2012 is my favorite album from them: in it, their ambitions are fully realized. The track above is also a great example of what they’re capable of (although closer track “First Light” is even better but it’s also seventeen minutes), beginning with the “lazy” intro guitars and that insane bass thumping underneath them. The drums close off the package. Later in the track, the amazing vocals coming in, speaking of someone lost in endless circles, a life unfulfilled, fears chasing us down. The instruments go even slower to accompany them, framing the verses perfectly. Near the end you’ll find a quieter passage which leads into the crescendo, the brilliant repeating outro that will pulverize and elevate you at the same time. Honestly, I couldn’t choose just one track, so here’s another one:
“Invisible White”, both the track and the EP, showcase a different side of Ancestors: it’s slower, drenched in Pink Floyd influences and completely embracing of their stoner tendencies. The entire EP is a sunny afternoon packed into an album, melancholy and all. This is one of the main reasons I love Ancestors: no matter what they do, the focus is always on emotion and delivery. You owe yourself this masterful band which we have not even begun to scratch in this post. The sprawling, primal tracks of Of Sound Mind, the epic “First Light” at the end of In Dreams and Time and the restrained aggressiveness of Neptune With Fire should clue you in as to why they are my favorite act right now. Oh, and do we mention there’s a new album coming? Yeah.
-EK