Progressive/Post-Rock UK band Returned To The Earth return two years after their previous work with a new album, the fifth in their discography. Titled “Stalagmite Steeple,” it is due for release on June 14, 2024 via Giant Electic Pea and contains 6 tracks ranging from 5 to almost 10 minutes in length. The opener “Dark Morality,” which we have already enjoyed as one of the singles extracted to introduce the album, is an intense and deep prog track. An atmospheric intro then gives way to a pleasant interweaving of guitar and keyboards over a soft but elaborate rhythm section. The vocal is the protagonist in the verses, with a warm and expressive rehearsal, alternating with the long instrumental sections, accompanying the listener for over 7 minutes in a crescendo of intensity with modern Prog traits. The album’s shortest track “The Final Time,” which nevertheless runs to five minutes, opens with a deep piano melody and a pathos-filled vocal. A melancholic and poignant track, which is enriched with vocal interlacing in the finale, in a continuous crescendo of emotions. The title track “Stalagmite Steeple” is also the longest in duration, reaching 9:58 minutes. A track that combines the band’s more symphonic and melodic sounds, enriched by long instrumental textures that enhance the technique of the artists involved. The guitar offers a fine solo in the middle part, to then develop the track with a softer and more atmospheric section. with the return of the vocal for the last stanzas, the track ends with an enveloping and very pleasant Prog sound. “Meaningless To Worth” is a deeper, more reflective track, exploring the softer side of the band’s sound for most of its duration. A fine vocal enriches the track, which develops into a continuous musical crescendo that flows into the more Progressive sounds that characterise the project. A hypnotic synth background characterises “Die For Me,” over which a choral, emotional and deep vocal is inserted at times. The track develops with layering keyboard melodies and a rhythm section characterised by a deep, driving bass line. In the middle part, the intensity increases with a continuous crescendo, and then in the second section of the song explores a more electronic and atmospheric side. The vocal returns and alternating with instrumental sections with the guitar as the protagonist, the track ends in a crescendo. The last track of the album, “The Raging Sea,” is the softest, characterised by a more acoustic sound and songwriting traits. A good track that softly concludes the tracklist, maintaining those emotional traits and pathos that have enriched the entire album’s musical journey. A good album, showing a softer side of Progressive music, accessible to the listener despite the long duration of the tracks. The tracklist is intense and emotionally charged from start to finish, offering well composed and performed tracks, with a good alternation of sung and instrumental parts.
Tracklist
01. Dark Morality (7:19)
02. The Final Time (5:00)
03. Stalagmite Steeple (9:58)
04. Meaningless To Worth (6:09)
05. Die For Me (9:09)
06. The Raging Sea (5:36)
All songs written by: Robin Peachey
All music performed by: Robin Peachey & Paul Johnston
