Artist: Earth Album: Hibernaculum

Year: 2007
Duration: 36:50

A Critical Review of Earth's Hibernaculum Album

Earth, an American post-rock band consisting of guitarist Dylan Carlson and drummer Adrienne Davies, released their ninth studio album, Hibernaculum, in 2007, in collaboration with Sunn O)))'s Stephen O'Malley. The album is a representation of drone music - a subgenre of ambient music - with heavy distortion and minimalistic structures. In this blog post, we will delve into the history of Earth, the genre of Hibernaculum, the best songs of the album, the most innovative parts, and a critic to the album.

Earth was formed in 1989 in Seattle by Carlson, and it started as a metal band, but they soon discovered the minimalistic and ambient music of composers like La Monte Young and Brian Eno, which led to their transition to post-rock and drone music. The band's music is heavily influenced by Carlson's passion for nature and history. The name Earth signifies his desire to reflect the existence of the planet and its ecosystems in his music.

As mentioned earlier, Hibernaculum is a drone album with distorted guitar sounds and slow-paced rhythms. The songs have a repetitive structure with minimal changes, which demands patience and attention from the listener. The album's genre creates a meditative atmosphere, perfect for introspection and relaxation.

The best songs of Hibernaculum are A Plague Of Angels, Ouroboros Is Broken, and Miami Morning Coming Down II (Shine). A Plague of Angels is a monotonous yet haunting track with echoey guitar riffs and distorted chords. Ouroboros Is Broken has an eerie and sinister sound with reverb and distortion effects. Miami Morning Coming Down II (Shine) is a delicate track with Southern-inspired guitar melodies that build up to a powerful crescendo.

The most innovative part of the album is the use of distortion and effects. Carlson's guitar sounds like a buzzing hive or a roaring bull, which creates an unsettling yet mesmerizing effect. The use of reverb and echoes emphasizes the minimalistic structure of the songs, which makes them sound more atmospheric and spacious.

However, the album has its flaws. The repetitiveness of the songs might not appeal to everyone, and the lack of variation might make some tracks indistinguishable. The album's length, over an hour, might also be a daunting task for some listeners.

In conclusion, Earth's Hibernaculum is a daring and experimental album in the drone music genre. The distortion effects and the minimalistic structures create a meditative and immersive atmosphere. Although it might not be everyone's cup of tea, the album rewards those who are patient and attentive. Carlson's expertise in guitar and his passion for nature and history make Hibernaculum a unique and compelling piece of work in Earth's discography.