Album Review: Timeworn - Leave The Soul For Now
Reviewed by Neil Bolton
"Man that’s an album cover!"
The artwork for Timeworn’s third album is awesome. Don’t get me wrong I am not about to go on a rant about the craft of the album sleeve diminishing since the advent of streaming music. There are as many ropey photos of bands with one leg propped up on a medieval ruin in the 80's as there is today. This cover perfectly sums up the contents of the work it promotes. A haunted desolate forest giving birth to giants.
Now I do not write about the cover art because the music from these Norwegian guys is not up to par, it’s just because I feel it deserves mentioning. Because the music is up to par, and by some way.
Timeworms second album 'Venomous High' (2017) had a slight leaning towards an early Mastodon sound, and track one from this, their third album 'Leave the Soul for Now' leaps out in a similar vein. 'Sky Castles' has a better vocal sound than their previous work, in fact the whole album does, I do no not know if this is a decision made by Audun on vocals or Thomas Wang who mixed the album, but I like it. 'Sky Castles' cleaner sound on the chorus makes it immediately possible to sing along if this is your want. And why wouldn’t you. It’s catchy and hooky.
In Timeworns words, they “are pushing boundaries and exploring new territories”, and this is apparent in track two. With the title of the track 'Count the Crosses' being chanted, the music starts up again with a teaspoon of Cult of Luna now added. It’s only a levelled off teaspoon but it has been stirred in well and you can definitely taste it. This is a mix that works.
Track four 'Hellwater' slows and mellows things right down, even including a wonderful 80’s power ballad guitar solo and reprise. We bounce back again with 'Paradise Crown', crunchy riffs giving a sludgy, doom feel. The whole album contains a mature, swirling, haunting, atmospheric sound. We even have an epic nine minute track to close the album pushing their new sound a little further.
Bringing me back to the album cover. I can stare into this album cover and listen to the tracks with in it, over and over again. Menacing giants emerging from a haunting forest? Perfect.
"Man that’s an album cover!"
Timeworn release 'Leave The Soul For Now' via Loyal Blood Records on December 6th.
