1) Elder is a four-pi… Read Full Bio ↴There are several artists with the name Elder;
1) Elder is a four-piece progressive doom band from Boston, Massachusetts consisting of frontman Nick DiSalvo, bassist Jack Donovan, guitarist/keyboardist Michael Risberg and drummer Georg Edert. They have released five full-length albums since 2006 and multiple demos and EPs.
Elder is a genre-pushing rock band that melds heavy psychedelic sounds with progressive elements and evocative soundscapes. Formed in a small coastal town in Massachusetts in the mid aughts, the band has reinvented their sound over the course of five albums to grow from a stalwart of the stoner/doom scene into one of the most unique voices in the rock underground. Their long-scale compositions unfold as journeys, running the gamut of styles from the 70’s to the present within a single song with a penchant for “sheer gatefold-era grandeur” (Rolling Stone).
By continuing to incorporate new elements to their sound, Elder’s output has repeatedly set benchmarks for their peers. Beginning with 2008’s Elder and 2010’s Dead Roots Stirring, Elder made ripples in the stoner rock scene with their uniquely melodic approach to the genre. In 2015 they surprised again with Lore, a watershed moment in the band’s career (recently crowned “Album of the Decade” by The Obelisk) which brought in elements of post-, prog- and space rock into the Elder sound. Despite several years of heavy touring surrounding the album, Reflections of a Floating World was released just two years later, earning a spot at the top of many best-of lists including Rolling Stone (#5, 20 Best Metal Albums Of 2017), Stereogum and others.
In 2019, a tour pitstop in Berlin, Germany yielded the experimental EP The Gold & Silver Sessions. Recorded live based off ideas largely crafted while on the road, the release showcased Elder’s softer side; motorik beats, lush keyboards and sparse compositions replaced the usual colossal riffs and dense structure. Almost a decade and a half after the first sludgy riffs were recorded and the first demo pressed, the door for Elder stylistically remained wide open.
Elder’s new album Omens answers any speculation about new directions with affirmation: evolution or extinction. Lush, intricately interwoven melodies grow and dissolve into spaced-out jams; massive riffs thunder down into a churning sea of psychedelic sounds and unpredictable grooves carry away the listener. Elder paint pictures with their music, and Omens shows the band experimenting with an even more colorful palette – with good reason. After thirteen years, this is the first full-length recorded with a new lineup including guitarist Michael Risberg and new drummer Georg Edert, along with guest performances by Fabio Cuomo on Rhodes piano and synthesizers.
2) Formed in Brisbane in early 2018, Elder is a progressive indie rock band hailing from north Brisbane, consisting of Matt Burton (vocals, guitar), Henry Reese (bass) and Talia Bond (drums), the trio have released a DIY EP 'Cyril' in 2019 and their debut album 'Binoei' is due late 2020.
https://e-ldr.bandcamp.com/
3) American screamo band.
4) Elder is also a musical dramatist, telling stories of a dark yet recognizable world. His keen observation falls between tearful humour and black romance. His songs immerse the grittier side of life; depicting scenes of smoke filled rooms and drug fuelled nights. His music paves the way with slapping grooves and roots overtones. His theatrical storytelling has likened him to David Bowie, Tom Waits and The Eels.
http://www.myspace.com/elderroche
5) Elder was a dark Christian hard rock band that was on Bulletproof Music and Liquid Disc Records. It was made up of former members of the short-lived Four Living Creatures who were on Frozen Rope Records. "Elder gigs in Tidewater, VA were notorious for their evangelistic twist. It was like going to punk-goth-rock tent revival. Their first CD, Used To Be Adorable, was "funk 'n' punk" goth rock and Middle Eastern vibes with skilled intensity and scorching messages..." They broke up in the late nineties and the core member of FLC and Elder started a new project named Fell Desire.
http://www.graydot.com/support/eldx.html
http://cdbaby.com/cd/felldesire
Deadweight
Elder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
yearning for form and shape.
Riddles they spoke in tongues,
yearning for life undone.
Hands upon the oak
at the end of time,
and we scream the oath.
Crushing the weak, and grinding on
wheels of eternity foregone.
Lay dead weight.
Lay dead weight.
Lay dead weight.
Lay dead weight.
Lay dead weight.
Lay dead weight.
The lyrics of Elder's song "Deadweight" convey the idea of the heavy burden of freedom. The song's structure follows a pattern of repetition and gradual intensification that reflects this weighty concept. The opening lyrics introduce the central theme of the song: the yearning for form and shape that burdens those who seek freedom. This is followed by an oblique reference to the difficulty of understanding the mysteries of existence, with "Riddles they spoke in tongues." This line speaks to the struggle of grappling with the complexities of life's mysteries, which are compounded when one is also weighed down by the burden of freedom.
The next section of the song takes a more visceral turn, describing the crushing impact of this burden on the weak and the sense of unyielding eternity that it creates: "Crushing the weak, and grinding on wheels of eternity foregone." This line speaks to the overwhelming power of this burden and the sense of unyielding timelessness that it creates. The repetition of the phrase "Lay dead weight" throughout the song highlights the overwhelming weight of the burden of freedom and suggests the sense of paralysis that it can create.
Overall, "Deadweight" is a compelling meditation on the nature of freedom and the overwhelming burden that it can create. By focusing on the sense of heaviness and confusion that accompany the search for freedom, the song offers a powerful metaphor for the complex realities of existence.
Line by Line Meaning
The burden of freedom's weight
The heaviness that comes with the responsibility of being free
yearning for form and shape
Desiring structure and order in the chaos of freedom
Riddles they spoke in tongues
Speaking in cryptic language, causing confusion and uncertainty
yearning for life undone
Longing for a life without the burdens and constraints of society
Hands upon the oak
Reaching out for stability and grounding in the face of the unknown
at the end of time
In a moment of ultimate significance
and we scream the oath.
Making a proclamation of loyalty or commitment, possibly in defiance of others
Crushing the weak, and grinding on
Taking advantage of those who are vulnerable and continuing on without regard for their suffering
wheels of eternity foregone.
The endless cycle of time and fate that has already been determined
Lay dead weight.
Giving up and allowing oneself to be dragged down by the weight of life
Lay dead weight.
Resigning oneself to a life of unfulfilled potential
Lay dead weight.
Choosing to be inactive and apathetic, rather than taking action and shaping one's own fate
Lay dead weight.
Succumbing to the pressures of society and allowing them to crush one's spirit
Lay dead weight.
Failing to take responsibility for one's choices and allowing circumstances to control them
Lay dead weight.
Preferring the safety of inaction, even though it leads to a life of unfulfilled potential
Contributed by Audrey I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.