Review: Gorm – Elysium

It only seems like a few months since I reviewed their first record, yet Gorm are back already with their latest offering Elysium. Split into Part I and Part II both running at 12+ minutes each, the German 3 piece are progressing nicely and refining their heavy psych craft into some aural magic.

Elysium Part I doesn’t take long to kick in as the song begins to build like the launch into space Gorm are about to take you on. Guitars dive in and out and create big atmospheric soundscapes that build layer upon layer as the journey into the cosmos unfolds.

To make musical comparisons, the obvious are Elder, Rotor and My Sleeping Karma, but Gorm are forging their own path throughout the planetary systems. With this style of instrumental rock, bands can either travel into the desert or the night sky and Gorm sit well up within the comets and the nebulas.

Elysium Part II feels more of an upbeat track that has its interstellar course already set. There’s lots of rolling drum beats and crashing of cymbals before the song takes a different course and the bassline ramps up (ala Pink Floyd) and the guitars float in and out as you feel the gradual descent back towards land. 

With the endless cancellation of shows right now due to Covid-19, we are just going to have to wait a little longer to witness the whole of Elysium being played live.

After several listens to this already, I have no doubt that they will have their own “Dead Roots Stirring” epic in the making soon, hopefully in the next record.

The digital version is already out there to consume on all the usual platforms and the two vinyl versions (White/Blue Smash and Blue Translucent) which look rather special, will be available any day now.

Also, if you didn't manage to see their livestream session on Saturday night, I have included it here as it was rather good!


 
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Review: Gorm - S/T

Just when you think that Germany cannot produce another killer heavy psych band, in walk Rostock’s Gorm. Following on from a live release from 2017, they have locked themselves away and created an instrumental sound that takes the listener in to another sonic dimension.

With 5 songs (4 on the LP) covering 57 minutes, it’s time to sit back and enjoy their cosmic trip.

“Rhea” starts off slowly with a couple of riffs that are reminiscent to what Elder are doing right now. A tight sounding rhythm section that starts to take you out into the distance with fuzzy guitars that start to build and build. Then around 4:00 minutes everything stops to then be pushed up a level and forced out into the universe, this is where the instruments get thicker and the guitar starts to pull you away, but never too far from the chugging sound that makes you think of the spaceships engine. Again it stops, with listener only hearing a slight keyboard effect as though you are in deep space and then the song builds up the layers before its signature riff takes over, feeling big and emotive, before it takes you back.

Feeling the connection to the next track “Hyperion”, you feel as though you are already back up there is the stars with instruments sounding more as though they are turning to the light. The song then takes a gentle approach as the bass and drumbeats pull you along before the soundscapes start to build and evolve and for the next 7 minutes slowly take you out there and back again on many occasions.

“Hydra” is a 12 minute journey that has more a well thought out “jam” feel to it, reminding me of Colour Haze and Rotor in parts. The guitar meanders back into the cosmos again, backed with more cymbals this time and when the heavier parts kick in, they really kick in with a repetitive style this music was made for. Half way through the track stops and veers off into different world and the bass guitar feels a lot fuzzier as it drives everything forward. Everything speeds up as the guitar takes on a slight metal chug to it, leaving space for some intricate guitar work to follow.

Elder fans will really enjoy “Triton” with its overlaying guitar soundscapes and time changes, giving you the atmosphere of space exploration without knowing what is coming on the horizon. One minute the track is driving forward with a repeating guitar riff, the next with a euphoric like guitar melody.

The non vinyl LP versions also have the track “Calypso” on them, a more crunchy psychedelic jam compared to the others. From the guitar walking off into the distance repeatedly whilst it keeps bring you home to repeat a riff reminds me very much of Rotor, which is a bonus. From the thick fuzzy overlays to the more psych sounding parts, Gorm have the ability to sound heavy, but not in a metal way.

The vinyl is available direct from the band in 3 Colors (Blue, Orange and a Purple/Black marble). 

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