A pike. At least that's what hides behind the title "Esox Lucifer".
"Esox lucius" is the scientific name for the fierce predatory fish, but Sweden's 10,000 Years give it a darker identity with a subtle twist. The creature of cold northern waters suddenly becomes something that could just as easily have crawled out of a nightmare, an ancient legend, or a particularly sinister science-fiction story. And that is exactly where the fourth album by the Swedish trio begins – somewhere between cosmic horror, dark fantasy and heavy, riff-drenched rock.
10,000 Years are no strangers to the Stoner and Sludge underground anymore. With "Esox Lucifer", Alex Risberg, Erik Palm and Alvin Risberg continue their partnership with Ripple Music and deliver an album that doesn't throw their established strengths overboard but noticeably expands on them. Massive riffs, dirty grooves and Alex Risberg's raw vocals still form the foundation. This time, however, the band allows itself to venture much further beyond its usual boundaries. Psychedelic expanses, progressive structures and atmospheric, almost otherworldly passages ensure that these eight tracks offer far more than just another round of fuzz and full throttle.
The instrumental "Beasts Of The Northern Wild" opens the journey with a strangely ominous atmosphere before "Pursuit Special" fires up the engine and charges forward with a hefty Desert Rock groove. With "Fleur De Sledgehammer", 10,000 Years then make it particularly clear where this journey is heading: heavy riffs and aggressive vocals collide with psychedelic detours and a much more open song structure.
"Church Of The Red Museum" tightens the screws again with forceful, noisy Heavy Rock, while "Alien Tactics" combines Sludge, Prog and occasional Thrash outbursts into one of the album's most exciting moments. "Two Million Stones" comes across as more direct and riff-driven but remains firmly anchored in the album's spacey atmosphere. "Paranoidium" keeps the tension high before the title track, running for more than seven minutes, takes over for the grand finale. Starting out heavy and dark, "Esox Lucifer" gradually drifts into longer psychedelic instrumental passages and chooses not to end the album with one final punch to the face, but with a stare into the unknown.
Ripple Music once again proves its excellent instinct for bands firmly rooted in the Heavy Rock universe but unwilling to be confined by its borders. 10,000 Years still sound unmistakably like 10,000 Years on "Esox Lucifer" – their universe has simply become bigger, darker and more diverse.
This album isn't a radical reinvention, and it doesn't need to be. Instead, it's a confident step forward and perhaps the Swedish trio's most versatile chapter to date. If you're into heavy riffs, dirty grooves, Sludge-fueled power and a healthy dose of cosmic madness, you should definitely cast your line here. And don't worry: whatever bites down there probably has some pretty fucking big teeth. ��
-Helge Neumann
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