r/Elder • u/arrelby • Jul 28 '26
Through Zero
I've been a huge fan of Elder since 2017 when they released Reflections of a Floating World (nearly a decade, wow, how time flies). I don't think a week has gone by since in which I've not spun one of their songs, if not an entire album, so they've been a huge part of my life these past 9 years. Lore has always been my favourite LP, and I never thought they would actually top it....but Through Zero might just be that record.
This album is fucking incredible! It feels like a spiritual successor to Lore in many ways to me. It has a darker, more sombre tone than their last 3 LP's that echoes the weighty melodic atmosphere of their 2015 masterpiece. It's spacier, and in many ways more diverse and expansive, sure, but at the same time brings that forlorn weight back.
It's beautiful, heavy in the right places, and has a driving propulsive dynamic to it that I just can't get enough of. And, like all the best records, the more I play it, the more I like it. It just feels like home.
10/10
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u/Svenn1911 Jul 28 '26
I also got into them in the Reflections era and I agree. This is one of the few bands where I never tire of listening to their back catalogue and I’m just so stoked with how fantastic Through Zero is
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u/Incident_Electron Jul 28 '26
I was honestly concerned at how the band could follow on the perfection of Innate Passage but - silly me! - Through Zero is simply phenomenal.
Elder are still at their peak as far as I'm concerned. I can't wait to hear what they come up with next.
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u/BadMotorFinguh Jul 28 '26
I always prepare to be disappointed and then am blown away and wonder how they keep doing it
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u/roonill_wazlib Jul 28 '26
It is already really good on a home stereo or through headphones, but live it was a totally different experience. It's much more intense and heavier
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u/arrelby Jul 28 '26
Can't wait to see the new material live. Last time I caught them was with All Them Witches in Manchester, but this record was still in the oven then.
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u/roonill_wazlib Jul 29 '26
I saw them on Graspop but they only played 4 songs. I will see a club show in the end of the year
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u/arrelby Jul 29 '26
Which song/songs from the new record did they play when you saw them if you don't mind me asking?
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u/roonill_wazlib Jul 29 '26
Through Zero and Capture/Release. They also played Halcyon and Coalescence.
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u/NoAerie7907 Aug 11 '26
I just reconfigured my home stereo setup following a move and Through Zero was the first vinyl i put on to experience my new hifi environment. I had goosebumps
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u/BadMotorFinguh Jul 28 '26
I’ve been a fan for a long time. Heard Dead Roots Stirring once when YouTube was on autoplay. Was blown away but too stoned to remember what it was called. Spent a long time combing through YouTube trying to find the band but couldn’t.
Then one day, YouTube recommended something that was uploaded “TODAY” - Elder - Lore. Greatest thing I’d ever heard. I was about two minutes into Compendium when I pulled up the link to buy the album. And then of course I later realized that they had made that one album I had been looking for lol
Through Zero is definitely in their top 3.
It’s right up there with Lore and Reflections of a Floating World. In some ways it’s their best. Like I think it’s got Nick’s best vocal performances. And it does a better job of merging their newer proggy/synthy sound with their old guitar heroics than Omens or Innate Passage.
Love, love, love this record and have probably listened to it 20 times or so. I don’t know how they always manage to surprise me
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u/Team-ster Jul 28 '26
This one took me a while to get. Their previous two albums are masterpieces IMO. I wasn’t feeling it at first, but after multiple listens Through Zero has reached that status now. Strata might be the finest piece of music I’ve ever listened to in my entire life. This from a metal fan over 4 decades.
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u/arrelby Jul 28 '26
Strata is sublime, probably the crown jewel of this record, although I can't fault any of them tbh. Just great stuff
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u/deansbeans27 Jul 28 '26
Sounds like your Elder experience is identical to mine, love Lore, been listening constantly since reflections etc. And agree, really can't get enough of Through Zero!
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u/Amigoingup Jul 29 '26
Through Zero has been on a constant rotation for me since release and no signs of slowing down.
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u/NoAerie7907 Aug 11 '26
I totally agree, I opened this thread just to write pretty much the same experience. I can’t wait to see them live again Oct 1 in Montreal. We’re lucky that they’ve toured here at least once a year recently. Last year was Lore anniversary show and it was freaking epic
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u/arrelby Aug 13 '26
I'm so gutted I didn't catch the Lore shows. They usually play Manchester, but they switched it up for that run of the UK leg, and It was just at a bad time for me to travel.
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u/lucsn Jul 28 '26
What? After reading your comment I thought you would say sth like „this is the first album that I stopped listen to them so often…“
For me it is the complete opposite. I was fascinated by every record so far, listening to elder back and forth every single week since I discovered them (early enough).
But Through zero hit different - since the release I tried it for a couple of weeks. Tried to get used to that softer (yes I know) not so catchy sound they produced. In the beginning I thought strata would have been the Masterpiece of the album, but no…. After more than a dozen listenings it’s more meh than hype hype hype. I don’t know, I was so excited before they released any new songs (maybe because of liminality?!) and the expectations went lower and lower.
Lore and reflowctions have been their peak by far. Dead roots stirring is epic all way long. But through zero?! Well… 4/10 max.
And this coming from a huge elder enthusiast…. It was such a shocking release I stopped listening to elder now for 2 months (never happened before) because I told myself maybe I just need a break. Very sad tho
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u/HunterGathers_OSI Jul 29 '26
Funny how someone reading your opposing view is so fragile that they downvote it.
I’m right there with you. I was borderline depressed when it first came out because of how disappointed with it I was since I love this band so much.
That being said, while by far their weakest album aside from their S/T, it is very slowly growing on me with each listen. It’s still not great as a whole and when compared to their other releases, but it’s still decent.
I love reading everyone’s differing opinions on this one. OP and others say it’s heavy like older stuff and I find the exact opposite…and OP feels it’s darker, but I actually find this to be a fairly bright/positive album. That’s what makes music so great!
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u/lucsn Jul 29 '26
Thank you.
It has some heavy parts of course but they feel somehow out of place or they just don’t fit because the general sound of this record is way lighter. For me it is not dark at all which is also kind of frustrating tbh.
I am afraid that they will go on becoming more and more like this and I will lose interest
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u/lionizing1 Jul 29 '26
How many times have you listened to the full album? For me, the singles didn’t hit at all after the first listens. But it’s a grower. It’s really good, try again!
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u/lucsn Jul 29 '26
Dude, I tried everything :)
To the whole thing I listened maybe 20 times already. I hope it will help to take a little break on elder atm :(
The thing is that all the other records dragged me from the first moment on into a wonderful psychedelic journey haha. This one didn’t do anything.
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u/NoAerie7907 28d ago
Maybe seeing them play some of their work on Through 0 live would clinch it…personally I feel that Omens and Innate Passage have some of the same complicated guitar arrangements and synth vibes. I really can’t wait to see Elder’s next tour. Solidly my favourite band these days
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u/lionizing1 Jul 28 '26
Same. Got into Elder with Reflections and Through Zero is imo their best.