Blue Heron – ‘Ephemeral’ [Album Review]

Ephemeral is the debut album by Blue Heron, straight out of the deserts of New Mexico. Right off the bat, this is a record that is the intersection between stoner rock, sludge, doom, heavy psych and post-metal, but somehow transcending any easy categorization, instead opting for the dredge of forebears such as The Melvins, Kyuss, and Audioslave. Indeed, the album title could be talking about the guitar tone. It feels like listening to a heavy band in the middle of a sandstorm, an effect that is at first intriguing but over time captivating.

Tone alone does not a great album make, which is why it’s so important to point to the vocals on Ephemeral. The vocal work is impressive, carrying notes and conveying emotion in the parlance and style of yesteryear greats like Robert Plant or Ozzy Osbourne, while also straddling the contemporary heat of modern marvels like Kirk Windstein (Crowbar) or Chris Mereschuk (Isis). Added to that is the grandeur that the record’s artwork invokes: of gods and galaxies, of space and time, and of all things that lie under the majesty of the sun, scorched by its truth. It’s a heady mix but handled with just the right amount of heat.

Ephemeral has the makings of an album that is a staple go-to for day-to-day life: it maintains an ever-present whirlwind of movement and progression, chugging along in tempo, all while demonstrating the beauty of its guitar and percussive work. For anyone who is a fan of all things metal and rock, this release is a clear winner, and not to be missed by any means.

Ephemeral Track Listing:

1. Futurola
2. Sayonara
3. Push The Sky
4. Infiniton Field
5. The Buck
6. Black Blood Of The Earth
7. Where One Went Together
8. Salvage

Run Time: 47:10
Release Date: May 27, 2022
Record Label: Kozmik Artifactz (DE), Seeing Red Records (USA)