Earth: Performing Earth 2

 

 

 

 

Over the course of their thirty-year journey, Earth has maintained a commitment to monolithic minimalism. From their early seismic drone metal on Earth 2 (1993) to the Morricone-tinged Hex; Or Printing in the Infernal Method (2005) and the meditative rock of Primitive and Deadly (2014), the principle of austerity and restraint has remained constant. With their latest album, Full Upon Her Burning Lips, Earth strips down to the core duo of Dylan Carlson on guitar and bass and Adrienne Davies on drums and percussion. This results in an incarnation of Earth where every note and drum strike carries immense weight.

 

Full Upon Her Burning Lips opens with “Datura’s Crimson Veils”, a twelve-minute opus that reflects Earth’s 21st-century sound, with Carlson’s Bakersfield Sound guitars and Davies’ death knell drums. This album is more upfront and drier, using fewer studio effects to create a raw sound. Carlson wanted the drums to be prominent, showcasing Davies' ability to elevate the drum kit beyond mere rhythm, making it a nuanced component of Earth’s sound.

 

Unlike previous albums, Full Upon Her Burning Lips was created without a conceptual arc, relying instead on the collective subconscious of Carlson and Davies. This intuitive approach led to more open and spontaneous compositions. Songs like “Exaltation of Larks” and “Maidens Catafalque” emerged as terse musical vignettes. Carlson aimed for a "sexy" and "witchy" theme, referencing mind-altering plants and superstitions, creating a “witch’s garden” of songs.

 

The ten tracks came together from various sources: tour downtime, live soundtracks, and rehearsals. Engineered, mixed, and mastered by Mell Dettmer at Studio Soli, the album captures the depth of Earth’s sparse components, revealing new dimensions with each listen. Tracks like “She Rides an Air of Malevolence” and “An Unnatural Carousel” showcase the cyclical nature of Earth’s music, where subtle variations create a kaleidoscope of auditory activity.