All too often bands are saddled with the ‘Progressive’ tag simply by sharing musical qualities with those few truly evolutionary bedrocks of our musical realm, without actually delivering anything unique or revolutionary whatsoever. Thank fuck for the likes of Barren Earth who are at least trying to offer something new, with their hybrid sound which shows signs of pushing a few boundaries and moving the band into a territory of their own.

Now on a leading label in the form of Century Media, these melancholy merchants have upped their game even further with On Lonely Towers, truly showcasing their diversity in sound. With gloom ridden doom metal at its foundation, this also encompasses 70’s progressive rock’s adventurous side and a contrasting death metal ferocity; perfectly veering from extremity and pace through a moody crawl, with even hints of a more folk-like, colourful atmosphere in part.

Jon Aldara’s vocals are a true highlight and prove the band’s real trump card; at times giving a particularly expressive harsh growl, before pitching to a dark, Scott Walker like croon; all immersed in sincerity and unbridled emotion. Impressively despite this sheer range going on, everything flows and fits superbly, never feeling forced or out of place, but wholesome.

The prog tag is too often afforded to those who merely ape rather than set new ground; but it is bands like Barren Earth that hold the candle to forward thinking and keep it burning. Whilst not being an entirely radical departure from the status quo for some it adopts the mantra against the tried and tested, and, even more startling, even hints at further ambition to come. A band that have never really grabbed the headlines but have always been a formidable presence; and with On Lonely Towers they have shown themselves as surely one of prog metal’s brightest lights.

9.0/10

Barren Earth on Facebook

CHRIS TIPPELL