Earth – Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light II

You'll have a pretty solid idea of what to expect from the second half of Earth's latest opus if you've been paying any attention to their output over the past seven years or so: lengthy, beautifully cinematic soundscapes consisting mainly of snail-paced, barely-there drumming, droney textures and minute guitar licks.

 

The trace-provoking repetition of their best work is ever-present here – the generous use of cello acting as the main musical similarity between this LP and the last – though Dylan Carlson and co take their trademark subtlety even further.

 

There's the same kind of mournful quality as on part one, but II feels even grander; His Teeth Did Brightly Shine is where it really takes off, and there's an incredibly soulful atmosphere throughout – a quiet, late night feel which never gives up. Those rich, shimmering Americana influences shine through as always, but Earth sounds like a genre all in itself at this point.