Alientar- Martian Terrain CD
Private Release
From Aural Innovations #38 (Jan 2008)
Martian Terrain, the sophomore effort from neo-space rockers Alientar, shows
the group embracing its intergalactic heritage with a vengeance. Definitely
more focused than the group’s debut CD, Martian Terrain plunges into the
void with the rocketing opening track “All That You Say.” Lots of
swirling electronics and crushing guitar place this track squarely in the Hawkwind/Ozric
Tentacles space cadet camp. “Monolith” is even heavier, with Jason
Deppong’s manic guitar arpeggios flying through the mix like cosmic debris
through the asteroid belt. The majestic sweep of “Parasite” almost
approaches the heady heights of classic progressive rock, though with a decidedly
more aggressive edge that recalls similar excursions by groups such as Nektar
and Amon Düül. The frenetic title track appropriately closes the album
with more blistering guitar and a barrage of exploding drum salvos. All in all,
Martian Terrain is more coherent and more edgy than its predecessor; the guitars
are more firmly in control of the overall sound, and the group as a whole seems
more unified and more certain of the musical landscape they’ve just begun
to explore
Check out the band web site at: http://www.alientar.com/
Reviewed by Charles Van de Kree