STALAGMITE STEEPLE

3.5 stars. "Stalagmite Steeple" is the latest record from RETURNED TO THE EARTH released in 2024. After spending a week with their previous release "Fall Of The Watcher", I followed that up with a week with this their latest for comparisons sake more than anything. And I have to agree with the majority who feel this is a notch down from that 2022 recording. It's the same formula of slow to mid paced vocal tracks in a lot of melancholy and atmosphere. I just feel this latest one has less of those breakouts or deviations. I also feel less connected to this emotionally. A lot of extended passages here as well that go on and on. I still enjoyed playing it, but I knew from the first spin that this one wasn't going to reach the level of "The Fall Of The Watcher".

Like the previous record this has six tracks and clocks in around 43 minutes. This trio are all credited with playing synths, while Rob Peachey sings and plays guitar. And those guitar performances just aren't on the level of the previous one. Hey, I said I was going to compare the two. Steve Kitch the keyboardist for THE PINEAPPLE THIEF is back recording then mastering this album. While drummer Paul Johnston produced, engineered and mixed this record. There's some tasteful guitar and Steven Wilson-like vocals on the opener "Dark Morality". Spacey with piano as well. Get used to it.

"The Final Time" is one I like for the beginning and ending when the Soord-like vocals are almost spoken in piano and atmosphere. The title track opens with barely sung vocals in atmosphere with piano. It turns fuller around 2 1/ 2 minutes with what sounds like the organ floating. "Meaningless To Worth" opens with piano and atmosphere as vocals join in. It's fuller but not a lot on the chorus. "Die For Me" is the longest track at over 9 minutes and it has it's moments like around 6 1/2 minutes when the vocals return after this section has been building. I think I'm done by the time we get to the closer "The Raging Sea", but it's actually pretty good, although not closer worthy.

I will return to "The Fall Of The Watcher" in the future, so I'm really glad I checked this band out for that alone as I feel it's a special album. This one not so much.

Social review comments

Review related links

• Send comments to Mellotron Storm
• Report this review (#3158007)
• Buy RETURNED TO THE EARTH music online with PA partners
• Show all RETURNED TO THE EARTH MP3/Stream
• Go to RETURNED TO THE EARTH page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Stalagmite Steeple page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for RETURNED TO THE EARTH related discussions