As metalheads age, the draw towards progressive music seems to grow stronger and stronger: it’s relatively common to see bands putting out increasingly complex and elaborate records as their careers wind on, though that’s not to say it’s an approach that always pays off. In the case of ‘Elder,’ though, their slow evolution from sludge metal to atmospheric soundscapes has been met, time and time again, with thunderous applause. New album ‘Through Zero’ solidifies the group’s place in the modern prog pantheon.

It’s abundantly clear that Elder have no interest in traditional song structures, or really in writing anything close to a ‘verse’ or a ‘chorus’ at all: the six tracks that make up ‘Through Zero’ are winding epics, full of spacey keys patches and shifting moods. If these songs were paintings, they’d be abstract landscapes— this isn’t a record that’ll leave you with too many memorable melodies stuck in your head, but seeks rather to immerse you in a contemplative state of mind. Nick DiSalvo is an unremarkable vocalist, but his voice blends cleanly into the detailed arrangements that steal the show here. In start contrast to the rumbling guitar tones of their earlier work, ‘Through Zero’ wraps itself in pristine production and inviting textures, echoing around in a wide-open soundstage. It’s an approach that should strip the album of its mystery, and it can at times: still, the psychedelic build of instrumental number ‘Sight Unseen’ wouldn’t be quite so enthralling if you couldn’t pick out every distant lead line and every shimmering keyboard accompaniment.

The approach Elder have taken here is so smooth and warm, it almost defies the label of ‘progressive metal’ entirely! Even given the darker guitars in its second half, there’s very little about opener ‘Sigil to Ruin’ that feels ‘heavy,’ in any sense of the word— rather, the ten-minute opus has you feeling like you’re embarking on a curious expedition of an alien planet (not unlike the album’s striking cover). The delicate keyboard notes and the gentle momentum Jack Donovan’s bass lines bring to the project all coalesce to make ‘Through Zero’ into a real journey of an album, which seems far grander and more storied than its runtime might suggest. Closer ‘Blighted Age’ is nothing if not beautiful, trading off gorgeous clean guitar progressions, haunting chimes and simple but effective vocal refrains to bring things to a satisfying conclusion. If you’re looking for a listen that’s truly gripping, Elder may not be the right band for you: rather, their work is something to sink into, almost resembling a strange lullaby at times.

Exploring an alien world will always be fraught with danger though, and ‘Through Zero’ is not afraid to bring some intensity when it needs to— we are still talking about Elder here, even if their sludge days are very much behind them now. ‘Capture/Release’ may open on the same withdrawn note as ‘Sigil to Ruin’ before it, but it’s the song’s bouncy riffs and triumphant lead melodies in the second half that jump out at you. Even (or perhaps especially) in its most climactic moments, ‘Through Zero’ is unafraid to be bright and bold, throwing itself into larger-than-life major chords and unusual chord voicings without breaking a sweat. The epic guitar work and grandiose presentation of that title track feels pulled straight from the Mastodon handbook, though the Georgian band haven’t put together anything this progressive in years. Elder can still write excellent riffs, even if they aren’t the focus: ‘Strata’ is peppered with all the ear-candy metalheads could ask for, though they might have to sift through some atmospheric breaks to get to it.

Quite honestly, ‘Through Zero’ is pulling from the same bag of tricks every other prog metal band leans on: it isn’t the most technically marvellous release out there, nor is it the heaviest, but neither one is a mark against it. Elder’s latest project is intriguing unto the last, weaving classic progressive hallmarks into an experience that feels entirely alien. It’s a record best enjoyed like a good piece of post-rock— this is an album that will take you on a journey.