Kanaan – Earthbound
Release Date: 12th November 2021
Label: Jansen Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Stoner Rock, Psych Jazz.
FFO: Kyuss, Colour Haze, Elder, Motorpsycho, Earthless.
Review By: Paul Franklin
You may think that an instrumental album of prog stoner rock, from a trio of Norwegian musical prodigies, whose previous three albums have been ‘jazzy and psychedelic explorations, with forays into kraut and free improvisation’ might not tickle too many fancies. But, on Earthboud, Kanaan are not in the mood to tickle anything, preferring instead to smack you round the back of the head with some massive riffs and then wrestle you to the ground, pinning you under a hulking blanket of fuzz.
The relative mellowness of opener Prelude only serves as the calm before the thunderous eight-minute storm that is Return to the Tundrasphere. Dispelling all fluffiness that its name might conjure up, Pink Riff is a wired, psychedelic freak out that flares brightly for about three minutes before burning itself out and being replaced the longer jam of Bourdon. This is the track that best incorporates the classic stoner vibes blended with the more free-form jazz elements. Imagine if the school age Kyuss has spent less time behind the bike sheds smoking weed and more time in after school music theory classes.
Mirage is the second lighter note that serves as a break from the heavy stuff before we get engulfed by the aptly named Mudbound, a deliciously filthy dirge that you should definitely use to soundcheck any new speaker purchase!
The penultimate glacial-paced doom of Crash slowly builds towards the swirling soundscape of No Star Unturned that ultimately leaves the confines of earth behind and heads towards something altogether more cosmic.
Although it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, and there may be an argument for a little editing here and there, Earthbound shows that not all instrumental albums need to be a case of style over substance. If you are intrigued by the track below, it’s certainly worth a listen. And let’s face it, given the band’s previous output, their eclectic musical influences, and their passion for continued evolution, it’s anyone’s guess if their next album will sound anything like this one. 
(3.5 / 5)
