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Earthless: The Endurance Trial of Live Shows

Nathan Lindsay | San Diego, CA | 04/28/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Earthless live is an endurance trial, both for the audience and the band. I don't mean this in a negative frame at all. Live, the trio that is Mario Rubalcaba, Isaiah Mitchell, and Mike Eginton, is a high energy Mack truck spiraling at you full throttle. The music itself is reminiscent of the more exciting rock groups of the sixties and seventies, existing somewhere between Europe's Magma and Black Sabbath. But even this analogy doesn't come anywhere near to justice when describing these guys. Live, these guys are just plain fun. It's a tight, instrumental concoction of both deliberate destination and improv (I've yet to see two Earthless shows that are exactly the same). It's forty to fifty minutes of talent that only seems to improve as the sweat breaks and pours.

Being so blown away by their live shows I was worried about this CD release. To experience Earthless is to see them live and, while the CD delivers, I still cling that belief. However, the recording offers a clearer view of each members talent. Rubalcaba is the unquestioned master of the skins here and Mitchell slays forty minutes of original and highly emotive guitar leads that would leave most guitarists whimpering...honestly, it's tough enough coming up with a thirty second guitar lead but to crank one out that hits the forty minute mark and never approach boredom simply deserves respect. And one cannot dismiss the level-headed, metronome that is Eginton. But while the recording is clear and mastered well, I was still left slightly empty, perhaps missing the energy I remembered from their live onslaught.

This is Earthless. This is two tracks that draw upon fond memories of youth that I can no longer live out. This is a recording that leaves you thirsting for another live performance.

"

WHEW !

Brady M. Sullivan | new hampshire | 06/19/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Imagine a reallly cool song-ending that just keeps building up

until the really big finale that blows you away...Now, pick that

up with a piece of silly putty and stretch it out until it's say,

25 minutes long. There are two tracks on this album. Every time

you think the guitar can't go any further over the top, it climbs

another hundred feet up and cannonballs off the edge again. Truly

a fun ride; like a rollercoaster that's 15 miles long but never

gets boring."

Retro Acid Rock On Purple Marble Vinyl

Hand of Doom | The Wonderful World of Colonized Minds | 06/30/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was one I took a chance on and picked up on a whim ..twas not disappointed! Basically it's a fairly long two-song instrumental EP; the Immigrant Song-esque chugging of the opener, Flower Travelin' Man. And side B, the doom-tinged, significantly spaced out Lost In The Cold Sun. Crazy tight rhythm section belting out hypnotic drones festooned with fanatical guitar soloing/noodling. Obviously not covering new ground, yet is marked with the telltale vibe of authenticity. Not to be confused with seminal drone pioneers, Earth."