10,000 Years – III
Interstellar Smoke Records / Olde Magick Records / Death Valley Records – 2022
Rock, Metal, Thrash, Speed, Doom, Sludge Stoner
Rated: ****
We are transported back in time. Perhaps not as far back as say 10,000 Years or to the time when Megafauna roamed the earth. But at least some forty years towards that era that spawned the largest metal bands that would ever rove around the globe. That era that gave us the best of NWOBHW but also those legendary thrash metal albums and illustrious speed metal records. Indeed, we’re somewhere in the eighties and we’re listening to a track called Cult Axe. An introduction that leaves little to the imagination; the three Swedes of 10,000 Years that produce this ruckus love their metal, their hardcore and leveling the playing field with relentless riffage and fast paced guitar work. Man, what an opener! And that level of intensity continues on second track Megafauna; which implores some sludge to make the stomp and thunder even bigger, like the footfalls of those ancient beasts. And sure, third track Desert of Madness does take its metal at a gentler pace, using more proggy influences; but it’s not until fourth track The Secret of Water that things truly slow down; that we are given a moment of air and a second to catch our breath. The Secret of Water is this atmospheric little ditty that could have felt out of place; but due to the concept of this record, feels like the perfect moment to become better acquainted with the story, the environment and the danger that surrounds it all. The Green King for instance, it’s seminal track not only tells of what lies ahead, but it also heralds the coming of more stoner influences. It moves from that trustworthy tinny metal sound to a thick and rounded resonance. Which shows us once again that the story behind the album, the concept that has been going for three albums now, works brilliantly. And that The Secret of Water is here to serve even more as a divider to halt the downwards spiral, and show, that even though there is still a large dark tunnel to go through ahead of us, there shall be light at the end. Just listen to that awesome Escape From Earth track and feel its bliss, the release and the euphoria. Shit, there aren’t that many metal artists that manage to truly translate feelings like euphoria into a track, 10,000 Years are one of them and for that alone they should receive a truckload of honor, accolades, beer and whatever else they would wish for. The album truly feels like an odyssey and one that comes to a worthwhile conclusion. Now if we could only come to a worthwhile conclusion at the end of this little screed? That seems highly unlikely, so let’s just profess our love for the third 10,000 Years album and hope that even though the story surrounding the Albatross spaceship might be done, there will be more 10,000 Years metal in the future!
(Written by JK)
