Earth - Hibernaculum (2007)

“The Sun revolves around the Earth.” This was the sentiment when the now-infamous duo of Greg Anderson and Stephen O’Malley formed Sunn O))), following in the footsteps of drone-pioneer Dylan Carlson and his band Earth. Well, after a few years, Sunn O))) became a big name; Earth dropped off the planet amidst drugs, depression, and other personal problems.

Finally, after almost a decade-long hiatus, Earth returned with a revamped sound. The drone was still there, but now clean, almost country/blues riffs plodded along in place of the gritty, fuzzed metal/drone sound that they had originally become known for. Hibernaculum serves as a history lesson into Earth’s past, taking older tracks and revamping them in the new style Earth is now known for.

Hibernaculum opens with ‘Ouroboros is Broken’(originally an 18 minute on Earth’s debut Extra-Capsular Extraction), a looming, droning 8 minute track that perfectly encapsulates Earth’s new sound: Zen-like, minimalist blues-drones. The Sabbath-like fuzz of the original cut is gone, replaced by clean, dark riffs and slow, meticulous drumming.

‘Coda Maestoso in F (Flat) Minor’ was first featured on Pentastar, Earth’s third full length. A similar base is heard, but again, it is now cleaner, and now the tempo has been dropped even further. There is no rush to this music; the sound will come and go as Carlson sees fit.

‘Miami Morning Coming Down’ perhaps has the most notable changes. It was, at first, another fuzzed (I’ve used that term a lot, but it’s the only one that describes what I’m trying to say) drone piece featuring just bass and guitar, found on a compilation album. It is now a more melancholic ‘duet’ of piano and guitar alternating through parts of the original riff. The revamped ‘solo’ has the most distortion of any of the first three tracks, but it is still minimal, and fits beautifully with the new sound.

‘A Plague of Angels’ was the only track that was not originally on one of Earth’s first few albums. It was found on a very limited split with Sunn O))) from the year before (Angel Coma, limited to 2000 copies and only sold on their European tour). It’s 16 minutes long, and as much unhurried and deliberate as any of the other tracks. Carlson’s twangy, country-esque riffs are out in full force here, coupled with the incredibly slow drumming of Adrienne Davies.

For those new to Earth, Hibernaculum is a great introduction to both the sound Earth now embodies and the sounds they used to produce. For old fans, it is a fantastic EP to put on and zone out to. Close your eyes and just let the sounds swirl in your mind.