Tracklist
1. Intro
2. Monstah
3. Lie Quickly Down
4. Mind March
5. Liar
6. Dead Ol Harp
7. Belly Crawl
8. Bad Train
9. So So Souls
10. Doldrums
11. Abomination
12. Entropy
DURATA: 58:41
Retro Grave è il solo project che vede come mastermind il batterista Jeff "Oly" Olson, il nome non risulterà sconosciuto di sicuro a chi mastica metal da un po' perché si sta parlando del drummer dei mitici doomster Trouble nel loro periodo d'oro.
In effetti è da quelle coordinate sonore che prende vita questa nuova avventura, il vissuto e l'anima dell'album "Again", primo full uscito nel mese di febbraio, sono prettamente retrò, attingono ripetutamente da un background musicale di fine anni Settanta sapientemente miscelato con soluzioni epicheggianti della prima decade ottantiana, ma non si limiterà a questo.
Un lavoro completo che sa essere corposo e massiccio quanto variegato e sognante, c'è tanta carne al fuoco nell'operato di "Oly", fraseggi scuri e grevi sembrano preannunziare una vicina apocalisse, altri tendono a viaggi ampi, espansi in stile space, altri ancora impongono una progressione e dinamicità espressiva che par essere un fiume in piena.
Se non sapessi che il disco è di quest'anno (nel 2009 si poteva trovare solo tramite download) ascoltando "Mind March" come potrei non pensare di esser tornato nel 70'?Il platter possiede movenze feline, è intrigante, si muove di soppiatto per graffiare quando meno uno se l'aspetti ed ecco infatti che vien fuori una heavy "Liar" a darci una sonora sveglia stranamente seguita da una desolante e tombale "Dead Old Harp".
Con "Bad Train" tracce dei Pink Floyd più acidi si fanno vive, la sua particolare atmosfera è di quelle che acide colpiscono rimbalzando per le pareti del cranio senza sosta.
Se continuando l'ascolto è quasi inevitabile parlare di "So So Souls" o di ciò che le succederà visto che sia "Doldrums" che "Abominations" sono due pure perle, è con "Entropy" la canzone più lunga e accattivante del platter che i Retro Grave fanno un centro di portata strabordante.
Non vi erano stati sinora cali o distrazioni ma questi dodici minuti e mezzo racchiusi nell'episodio conclusivo sono l'esaltazione stessa di quanto le nostre orecchie han già potuto godere, dall'incedere umoralmente altalenante, fortemente influenzata dal rock progressivo si slancia trovando in più punti un contatto intimo e sofisticato.
La batteria ha un ruolo preponderante nel suo evolversi sempre maggiormente ricco e diversificato, un punto che sicuramente ha in comune con le altre tracce è l'uso fantastico dell'organo, adorna con i suoi tappeti sconfinati e delinea "Entropy" sino all'ultima nota scandita.
Dal punto di vista prettamente strumentale non si può non notare il lavoro svolto dal drummer sul proprio strumento madre, agile, possiede un continuo sviluppo avvallando soluzioni sia minimali sia di esecuzione ricercata con una naturalezza e tocco degni di chi ha vissuto giorno per giorno dietro le pelli.
"Again" non ha riempitivi, non ha innovazioni, se ne frega letteralmente di ciò che è il nuovo, è un album che guarda indietro facendo rivivere sensazioni che solo i grandi che hanno vissuto quel periodo hanno saputo regalare, Jeff "Oly" Olson era ed è fra questi.
Acquisto caldamente consigliato per chi ama la corrente più classica del doom.
Adem Tepedelen of Decibel Magazine recently conducted an interview with Jeff "Oly" Olson for the latest "Brewtal Truth" column. An excerpt is below.
"Doing the interviews for our Hall of Fame story on Trouble's Psalm 9 [Dec 09 #62], we were intrigued to discover that the band's former drummer, Jeff "Oly" Olson, worked at Allagash Brewing-- makers of fine Belgian-style brews-- in Portland, Maine. Though we didn't get to talk beer at the time, this was a revelation (cheap Trouble reference intended) that required following up. And what better time than the recent release of a new full-length CD, 'Again,' by multi-instrumentalist Olson's (mostly) solo project, Retro Grave." So, what do you do at Allagash? Jeff "Oly" Olson: I'm part of brewery operations. I get the beer to wholesalers and distributors across the U.S. It's a great job. What's your experience/interest in craft beers? Olson: I've always liked good beer, since I went to Germany in 1978. And being on tour with Trouble, we'd always be somewhere cool like Belgium, Holland, Germany or Italy, where beer was taken seriously. Back in the U.S. I got very interested in craft beers, and working [in that industry] was a great job for me to have while I was on different hiatuses from Trouble. I read that you recorded the drums on 'Again' at the Allagash brewery. How did that go? Olson: I had the drum kit set way up high above the tanks in a big concrete area up where we store grain. And I pointed it toward the big wall and cranked it out. On the third track, "Lie Quickly Down," you can hear the compressors [at the brewery] come on. I was gonna take it out, but I thought it was funny having it on there, I kept it. And it fits. The song is about riding around town in your hot rod, so when the compressors kicked on it sounded like an engine. Does Retro Grave sound at all like Trouble? Olson: It has elements of Trouble, but maybe it's a little progressive. Not progressive like Dream Theater; it's more like Pink Floyd-- soundscapes, experimental, orchestral-- but still dark and heavy. There are elements of Can in there-- like Can meets Black Sabbath [laughs]. No way will I ever stop grinding in the doom genre. I love it too much.
Decibel's entire interview with Jeff "Oly" Olson can be found in the May 2010 issue, which will become available at news stands and stores at the end of this week.
Surprises are hard to be found in Doom Metal. If you hardly follow the genre you probably are familiar with the musical stereotypes of the genre, you know what to wait from a Doom Metal record: Heaviness, tombstone riffs, apocalyptic melodies, great vocals and flashing lead guitar themes, those are basically the main features of Traditional and Epic Doom Metal which is the main basis in this musical darkness… and yes in every new record you are prepared enough and wait for all those features to be given in an inspired way to satisfy you. Each album could be the best album in the world or the worst ever recording but the stereotypes are almost the same, the music makes the actual difference. But when was the last time that you get SUPROSED by listening a Doom Metal record?
For me it was when I listened to the “Again” debut full length of Retro Grave. The band is the spiritual child of Jeff “Oly” Olson who is for sure familiar to you as the drummer in the golden age of US doomsters Trouble. At first Oly has announced a remake of the classic “Run To The Light” album originally released by Trouble, this would finally happen by Trouble themselves as now Oly is focused on his personal musical journey under the Retro Grave moniker, well it could not have better than this. Are you still wondering why?
In their debut Retro Grave are delivering the greatest Doom Metal I have heard recently. Yes here we got heavy as Hell meanwhile hypnotic Doom Metal, built in progressive structures, blessed by a retro touch but meanwhile enforced by epic riiffs and apocalyptic melodies. The ultimate trademark in here is Jeff’s vocals. Well this crystal clear voice painted by the colors of darkness is just what a fucking Doom Metal record needs.
Retro Grave could be thinking man’s next musical pick as someone would do no justice to their great music, describing it simply as Doom Metal. We got many musical elements and influences in here, we got a river of inspiration, a strange still magnificent atmosphere and –I would write it again- this voice… haunting this musical painting. Hey Doom fans… do not turn your page the basis is ultra fucking Doom Metal but the ship travels much longer for there and I like it. I like it because the music is inspired, it keeps the basic features of good Doom Metal opening wings to darkly purple skies. Yes there is a serious 70s, psychedelic touch in here but it is one of the few times that it is spread in an inspired way through the music.
I got to make a self apology because when I first read about the band I thought that it will be again one of those wannabe 7s “retro” bands that have flooded the market –yes a few of them are great but this is not for your everyday “wanna get back in 1973” band-. Well I was wrong. Retro Grave is much more than this. They got their retro touch but their sound is so unique to fit in the plastic retro box.
For sure one of my favorites for this year. I got to check their EP as well and I will do it for sure. Until then I advise you to give them a try! They deserve it!
Retro Grave is the work of Jeff “Oly” Olson who all doom metal fans will know from the highly influential band "Trouble". The album was originally released as a online download last year but now has finally made its way onto CD with a extra track and a extra musician Michael Leonard Maiewski who adds some strings and vocals. If you were expecting another CD in the same vein as Trouble you will be in for a surprise, this is far removed from the traditional doom and classic rock of that band. However "Again" is still fits very much within the doom genre but with a lot of progressive rock song structures and a more experimental approach not heard before from his previous work.
I would describe "Again" as "thinking mans doom metal" with (as the band's name suggests) a "retro feel". If you didn't grab yourself a copy of the download last year and don't know what to expect from the album, you will be surprised and blown away from the various sounds and influences on this album. It can go from doom metal that is heavy and apocalyptic to music which is haunting and sometimes strange to the very psychedelic. Keeping with the tradition of doom, the album maintains a dark vibe throughout most of the album especially in the moody, ambient "Entropy" which is a epic musical journey into progressive rock but with a very haunting bleak atmosphere.
Being a drummer, Jeff Olson is allowed to stretch himself musically which he does on nearly every track on here. From jazz-tinged drum work to progressive Pink Floydish styled drumming flourishes, the album takes on a lot of experimental leanings. At the other end of the spectrum, you have a track like "Mind March" which has one of the heaviest doom metal riffs you will ever hear but Jeff's vocals adds a very different quality to the music. It has a clear but other-worldly sound about it, very much psychedelic and spacey.
Its a album of contrasting styles and sounds that blend to make one of the most original sounding albums ever released in the genre. There is no filler on the album, its well thought-out from start to finish and sounds very inspired by something very much from another world or galaxy. At times, heavy, strange, weird and wonderful, its a intriguing, well rounded album, check it out.
If anyone remembers or just checks out the review I made for the Retro Grave E.P. two years ago, he will understand that I’ve been looking forward to this debut album of Retro Grave for about two years now.
Retro Grave is the outfit formed by Jeff Olson (ex Trouble – drums) and this time has also the help of Michael Leonard Maiewski on strings on this first full length album, entitled “Again.” The album features 12 tracks through which tracks Oly is taking the auditors for a music ride through ambient, progressive, doom, stoner rock and in general experimental sounds, with the heavy use of strings and keys Retro Grave offer us an atmospheric trip, that for sure “demands” the auditor’s close listening, over and over again if he is not used to this sounds. If we add to this experimental outcome the voice of Oly that from times to times reminds me the voice of Peter Murphy (Bauhaus) and the unique feeling of Daniel Ash’s project “Tons On Tail” then you have the whole picture of what you are about to listen.
If you want to train your ears a little bit more get this one , right now!!!
