Under Dark Skies. Tombstones In Their Eyes

Previous Friday, Tombstones In Their Eyes' new album was released, Under Dark Skies. I'm not going to beat around the bush. Based on my memory my conclusion is that I'm not hearing anything new compared to the Los Angeles band's last 2024 album, 'Asylum Harbour' (2024), but it sounds so incredibly good. The band has delivered an album that went straight into my brain and played every individual cell in there.

This feeling started with the opening and title song 'Under Dark Skies'. A drum pickup and off the band goes with a layer of guitars, a deep bass underneath it all and a drumkit that is mixed slightly to the foreground. The triple vocals of John Treanor (also guitarist), Clea Cullen and Courtney Davies are riding the waves the band provides them with like pro surfers. This song is such a great opener to the album.

The tempo may go right down for 'You Never Have To Love Me', the mood of Under Dark Skies remains and sails straight ahead. A psychedelic rock ballad? Why not. Tombstones In their Eyes shows how it's done. A massive sound is created by the whole band, besides Treanor, Cullen and Davies, there are Phil Cobb, guitar, Stephen Striegel, drums & percussion, Nic Nifoussi or Joel Wasko on bass and Paul Roessler, keyboards, harmony/ backing vocals. Finally, there is the late Paul Boutin on guitar & backing vocals. Boutin passed away in October but can be heard on the album.

Photo: Karin Johasson

The band with ease seems to be able to keep this level of quality. John Treanor wrote all the songs bar a co-written one. The band turns them into huge psychedelic rock anthems. There is not a lot of room for subtlety. The best is to let Under Dark Skies wash over you, to let it become one with you. The sound is so massive that it is easy to imagine to be completely covered by all coming at you. This tombstone is like a warm blanket wrapped around you on a cold night. A whole record long I am enthralled by the vocals. As they are singing with so many voices, the vocals become as massive as the music itself. Maybe there are more bands doing this, I'm not familiar with them. Because of it Tombstone In Their Eyes is a band that is unique. Under Dark Skies is an Ayers Rock, sorry Uluru, of an album. A solid monolith.

Yes, in a way I could have copied my review from last year. Except that I have the strong impression that Under Dark Skies is simply next level, perhaps two levels.

Wout de Natris - van den Borght 

 

You can listen to and order Under Dark Skies here:

https://tombstonesintheireyes.bandcamp.com/album/under-dark-skies