October 1996 | Rolling Stone

Singer and Guitarist Dylan Carlson, who has made four previous albums with different collaboratores under the name Earth, once told an interviewer, that, given a choice between being a lab technician and a wealthy rock star, he'd opt for the latter. Carlson's comment seems unremarkable until you realize the almost comically arcane nature of his artistic goal;to turn 70s style hard rock and heavy metal licks into jagged, minimalist pieces that echo the stately grace of medieval and Renaissance church music. As such, Earth-who debuted in 1991 with Beureaucratic Desire for Revenge, on which Carlson's good friend Kurt Cobain screamed a little-have always produced striking results. But where 1992's Earth 2 explored sound and stasis in the style of Robert Fripp and Brian Eno, Pentastar:In the Style of Demons finds Earth more involved with actual songs. Their fascination with disembodied big rock remains :"Introduction" and "Coda Maestoso in F(flat) Minor," which frame the album, are robust, majestic, Black Sabbath-esque riffs transformed into symphonic hot-rod music. But on "High Command" and the excellent "Tallahassee," Carlson and bassist-guitarist Ian Dickson create real melodies, whispering and grunting from, within the fuzzy jams. In the album's scaryes-in-the-air version of Jimi Hendrix's "Peace in Mississippi," even the guitars seem to sing. Covering Hendrix makes sense, actually:For all of Earth's esoteric ambition, the secret to their musical success is flash. These experiences are not just for lab techs.

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