I admire artists who change. Considering the trend away from doom metal and towards psychedelic rock across the Elder discography, it should come as no surprise that the new project by frontman Nick DiSalvo focuses entirely on the latter. Diving into layers of synthesizers and guitar haze, All Paths Diverge blazes a new trail into psychedelic music that was only hinted at by Elder previously. Though the remainder of this review will describe their music, the Delving artwork is perfect; it fuses a warm embrace with something fantastic and foreign. Does the album match?
The opening three tracks on All Paths Diverge are stylistically similar and indicate the record’s core sound. They fuse twinkling synths, keyboard melodies, and fuzzy stoner riffs into songs that like to gradually layer and de-layer. It’s solely instrumental but you won’t notice the absence of vocals; the guitars, drums, and synths are plenty expressive. The flowing song-writing moves at an ambling, lilting pace, operating in a space that feels more psychedelic than it does progressive. And while I’m sure the guitars would have more heft in a live setting, as recorded nothing here has the imposing feel of true ‘heaviness.’ The majority is warm, pleasant and unthreatening. The evocative atmosphere transports me to an unhurried, beautiful walk through some sunny hills close to the Mediterranean.
Despite my overall positivity towards the core sound of All Paths Diverge, I prefer the songs featuring more dramatic change. Over the second half of “Zodiak” and the first half of “The Ascetic,” the album slows to almost ten minutes of crawl, featuring lots of synths and ambience. Fortunately, this is encircled by meatier riffs across the first half of the former and a frantic finale to the latter, melding keyboard and guitar solos into one of the heaviest passages throughout. Likewise, “New Meridian” is another highlight because of its dynamism. Pulsing synths and gentle beats ebb and flow for minutes before a dramatic transition into a fast, technical guitar lead. I’m an advocate for dynamic songwriting that pairs light with heavy, so I’m most engaged when Delving sprawl and develop. However, these stronger songs also emphasize that the opening tracks are rapidly consistent and predictable by comparison.
It’s clear that DiSalvo is a sophisticated songwriter. The compositions here transition smoothly and subtly, waxing and waning through the many instrumental layers and tempos. It’s just as well because All Paths Diverge runs for over an hour, averaging nine minutes per track. So these long songs demand smooth edges to mitigate the more abrasive track lengths. It’s a lot of music to consume. The generally relaxed approach and lengthy songs consequently results in much of the music slipping into the background. The big, airy synths and whining guitars contribute to this effect, whiffing more than a little of Steve Rothery’s solo work1. But where Rothery consistently fuses his gorgeous, spacious synths with dramatic solos and intricate guitars, and therefore commands my attention, Delving doesn’t always do so. Besides those moments of dynamism described above, All Paths Diverge is a gentle nudge compared with an emotive punch.
I’ve concluded my time with All Paths Diverge having appreciated its presence in the background as agreeable mood music. But its lack of real potency, both of a musical and emotional variety, devalues the Delving experience. Is background music what an artist truly tries to achieve when creating their music? Something to occupy your passive thoughts while active thoughts are focused elsewhere? I suspect not. But those who enjoy wallowing in psychedelia will undoubtedly find something to enjoy here.
Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 8 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Blues Funeral Recordings (US) | Stickman Records (EU)
Website: delving.bandcamp.com
Releases Worldwide: August 23rd, 2024
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