SOUND BITES

Following an introductory EP last summer, the debut LP from supergroup Gone Is Gone (Mastodon's Troy Sanders, At the Drive-In's Tony Hajjar and QOTSA/A Perfect Circle guitarist Troy van Leeuwen) expands the palette of that short sampler, incorporating spacier vibes, darker grooves and trickier rhythms. The album does drag on through certain stretches though, getting a bit bogged down tempo-wise, and I can't help but think a few tracks could have been swapped out for the previous EP's highlights (there isn't anything, for example, as primal and invigorating as Violescent ). Still, the quality of the players involved ensures that Echolocation is no mere tossed off collection of tunes; and, while it's perhaps not as energetic or vibrant as it could have been, it does pack its fair share of winners. If atmosphere gets you off, there's plenty here and, as a means by which to tide fans of all four parent bands over (all four of which, barring delays, should be...

It's getting harder and harder to keep track of Troy Sanders. Primarily known as bassist/vocalist for metal powerhouses Mastodon, Sanders was involved in 2014 supergroup Killer Be Killed, who released one of the finest metal releases of that year. Now, in addition to working on the seventh Mastodon record, he's released the debut EP by Gone Is Gone, another supergroup that features Troy Van Leeuwen (veteran of many bands himself, including A Perfect Circle and Queens of the Stone Age) and Tony Hajjar (drummer for At the Drive-In). This EP explores mostly non-metal territory, dealing more so in spacey, groove-laden hard rock. It's an intriguing introduction that shouldn't disappoint anyone familiar with the involved players. July 8, 2016 • Rise Records Highlights Violescent • Starlight • One Divided