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This Vast Array

by Old Mine Universe

supported by
Master of Alchemy
Master of Alchemy thumbnail
Master of Alchemy Someone say music is dead? Old Mine Universe just shot that statement down in flames! I don’t know how this is a debut album, it’s ridiculously accomplished in every way, an astounding feat of talent. This is hard rock, with respectful nods to past legends, touched with expansive desert rock, throughout remaining intelligent, thoughtful, contemplative, upbeat. Guitar solos, remember them? I can hear Slash & Kirk Hammett. But every member is smashing it out of the park here. Turn up that volume! Favorite track: Unearthed.
Cowboy's Juke Joint Radio
Cowboy's Juke Joint Radio thumbnail
Cowboy's Juke Joint Radio Old Mine Universe's debut album is a hard rock masterpiece! Their bluesy, fuzzy sound and killer guitar work make it an unforgettable listen. Favorite track: My Shadow Devours.
FDJ (Desert Psychlist)
FDJ (Desert Psychlist) thumbnail
FDJ (Desert Psychlist) Bluesy. fuzzy hard rock spliced with moments of heavy psych haziness. Great vocals, superb guitar tones, tight rhythm section... what more could you want? Favorite track: The Duster.
more... more...
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  • Streaming + Download

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    Each album download contains "Bandcamp only" bonus item: Illustrated Lyric Sheet
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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Comes in a jewel case with a fully-illustrated 12-page booklet, containing full lyrics and visual imagery from every song (i.e. in the nature of Live Evil by Black Sabbath)

    Includes unlimited streaming of This Vast Array via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 2 days
    edition of 200 

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1.
Dark They Were: I lived on the sunny side of the mountain You fought yourselves, but you wore down a peaceful man I had my fill of your lies and your desert gods No forces going to keep this man around This vast array On and on and on we go Lady in Chains of the hallowed sky, her sacrifice Bear Driver with his hunting dogs, he’s a mighty man Cygnus the Swan, he’s the Cross… and he brings me light Line unbroken to the outer darkness, I’m alive! Endless night But, on and on and on we go But, on and on and on we go Lost reaches I find Of memories still unkind Although the world will move along All along we want to be free Lost reaches of the multiverse, I accelerate Smoke rising from the valley of gods – I won’t hesitate Sufficiently breathless – one man’s fate and he’s laid to rest Empty shores of a life unwanted – no turning back No way back This vast array
2.
Gates of the Red Planet: Been fourteen years since I can relate Problem – that’s changed It’s taken a piece of me I will ride – all the way To the gates of the red planet Been fourteen years, so I hesitate That part, that’s lost It’s breaking the peace in me I will ride – all the way To the gates of the red planet Fourteen years and so I wait – today In the wake of strange ways – unfurled The pieces left of me I will ride – all the way To the gates of the red planet
3.
No Mans Mesa 02:57
No Mans Mesa: You will or you won’t And I kept you close to me You were and you are The same to me She’s right here Seeing the other side of me And we forget All that we were never meant to be And this high road A thousand years and endless sky When you take my hand I turn to you I turn to you…
4.
The Duster 03:13
The Duster: Carried over, Carried over the sun burnt coals Ten days of nothing, I ain’t stopping, oh yeah And I’ve been too long here for the duster Oh – I’ve felt alive then Yeah – I’ve been excited I fell inside it And I was so sad to see you go Burning diesel, Burning diesel to drive my hope Ten ways I’m dying, my mind stopped trying And I let the duster fill my soul I felt a lie then Yeah – I’ve been misguided I fell behind you Walking the shadow of your heart
5.
Unearthed 04:36
Unearthed Naked scars for you and I – on the last of days Revealing truth by blood red moon – forevermore Fruit is dying on the vine Knowledge burning in my mind I’m perfect in my ways But the truth alone won’t set me free You, I’ll give you more Don’t let it all fall down – forever You will sing my name – light bringer! Blessed are the strong Tomorrow, I will light the way Shadows hide the coming storm We’re crossing over where breaking bonds stoke angel fire… below the sky Lightning dripping from the jar From the east, the morning star Deserters – torn asunder Redeemers’ angels come to me And you, I’ll give you more Don’t let it all fall down – forever You will sing my name – light bringer! Blessed are the strong Tomorrow, I will light the way Free…Light…Die… Ramming through the after world Corruptive rhythm of hate unfurled Beyond the gates and the broken walls We speak the truth and the master falls Breathe…Life…Die… From the north will ride the… Breathe…Life…Die… In the east will burn the... Breathe…Life…Die… From the west winds coming Breathe…Life…Die… And the sign of the southern cross
6.
My Shadow Devours: It’s the same old way, to be caught in the same situation And only I can see it, can you see it to? Words that leave me half alive They don’t mean that we stand alone Overthrown No more waiting for those to days to come again And I will move, from the world I’m in You want to know, and you want to have For the sake of being, a rising star But it doesn’t it make you any fame And it doesn’t make you any name So let it be, let it bleed No more waiting for those to days to come again And I will move, from the world I’m in In this world, I’m fadin’ Can’t help but be jaded You strike me as someone who cares for me I’ll strike down every notion you throw at me I just left, to make it right Close the door, shut it tight Siren with a song - the ending of the sun Born again - to remain unknown To remain unknown.
7.
Sixes and Sevens: She said cold – yeah (is what she told me) Cold is the way, I left you Forgotten past like an empty pocket I got you down, yeah A faded man better stand aside A tortured soul nowhere to hide I feel it It’s enough to break my soul Break my soul I said burn, yeah – like a devil’s fire Burned all the way, by the hell I bring Coal-dusted wings, yearning for light She will never fly A broken life out of control What was your price? How were you sold? I see it All the things I can’t control Watch this unfold I feel it It’s enough to break my soul Darkness clouds the path I follow Dark and twisted is the way we’ve come We circle back, but it’s mad confusion I can’t keep it down Bury the world… together… within It’s all sixes and sevens again I see it All the things I can’t control Watch this unfold I feel it It’s enough to break my soul
8.
Cathedral of Tomorrow: He’ll never stand – he’s defeated So, on we go… away Back to the ways of corporate greed and He’ll never gain anything from it All of your sins have been - washed away Each one of you, starting new Baptized in shades of grey She’ll never get her – her instant fame And so, we scroll away Her masquerade is slowly fading The ego games we love to play All of your sins have been - washed away Each one of you, starting new Baptized in shades of grey Moonbeams through stained glass walls – electric imagery Freedom chains, freedom reigns, over me, An on and on and on it goes Misery, nothing to show Find your way back to the promise of tomorrow’s home Freedom reigns over me Freedom chains on me Freedom reigns over me Freedom chains on me
9.
Vanishing Point: And if you go my way Final thoughts for a dangerous day Summer nights, on the road In this world Calling me to the place I belong It always seems like you are never trying Push me away and I’m falling Highway fuels my disorder The steering wheel is all I feel as the sun’s gearing down No more need for this place Not what I got, but what it takes The mirror shows no trace Hollow eyes in the face of a man who’s long gone It always seems like you are never trying Push me away and I’m falling Highway fuels my disorder The steering wheel is all I feel as the sun’s gearing down And in these moments that we count in silence Long shadow’s horizon A release – set you free Got my gun, on the run, and I’m on my own
10.
Cold Stream Guards i) Sol Noctis This light will end, and we’ll begin again My final breath holds the melody Arctic sun, won't you speak to me? Winter solstice, whisper thoughtfully Six-month sun, won't you ever set? I beg the moon to not forget Two diamond points of light looking down on me Mouth is dry, hands shake reaching out for her But she's not there... Outer limits keep me in my tomb A fallen tree – a life of solitude Broken body on this icy shore, Unlock the bindings of the astral door A face of silver light, and she sings to me Chasm wide, the great divide - reaching out to her And she is there... ii) The Faceless Mind Wait in line, wait in the line Fail came to me in a flashing of light Wait inside, faceless mind Open the door to the passage of time All alone on this dead-end road A man wanted only to know the truth But he stood inside as the serpent hissed The rain, the blood and he said only this: “Save your mind, save your mind Blood flows all night Save your mind, save your mind Blood burns fire light.” iii) Punishments You will stand before us in the last days You will face the trial for all those you have wronged Here you stand before us, we know your ways Accused and judged, you will fail, and fall One life for the sinner One life for the dreamer One life for you to give her One life for the schemer Forfeit your life iv) Clear Mountain Arctic sun has revealed to me The key I seek, found inside of me Fever dream no longer holds me down Within my head I feel the icy sound v) A False Ending This light we’ll end, and we’ll begin again On hollowed ground, the sound is all around My final breath, ooh the melody An in this time, the last note fades away Fades away.

about

---------------Band Bio---------------

For Old Mine Universe, the 5-piece heavy rock band from Canada and South America, an obsession with desert vistas, long shadows, and the blue hour after sunset is what fuels their particular brand of heavy / psych rock.

Chris Pew (vocals), David E. (guitar), and Todd McDaniel (bass) are from Canada, while Erickson Silva (lead guitar) and Sol Batera (drums) hail from Brazil and Chile respectively.

Old Mine Universe’s music is deeply influenced by its relationship with harsh and beautiful landscapes, namely the high deserts of the American Southwest and Northern Chile, where several members have lived or travelled.

Musical influences include: Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, The Cult, Trouble, Masters of Reality, Kyuss, John Garcia, Causa Sui, The Skull.

credits

released February 8, 2023

---------------Press ------------------

Martin Popoff, rock critic, journalist and author of over 100 hard rock/heavy metal books says the following about This Vast Array:

"These guys have found the holy grail locus between retro rock like Sheepdogs and the best of Swedish stoner rock, while also massaging in proggy/traditional European metal moves just to confound… and impress the most ardent metal musicologist. I’m also hearing Glenn Danzig and Ian Astbury in the vocals, and come to think of it, this is super-smart like the surprisingly fecund and creative modern-day The Cult. Non-stop hard rock, delivered with edgy, bright production that is especially potent at the guitar position"

Watch Jamie Laszlo review This Vast Array on the Sea of Tranquility channel (beginning 01:13:20): www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_9rLMl8n5Q&ab_channel=SeaofTranquility

Branimir Lokner from Time Machine Music calls This Vast Array "Colourful, vivid, and interesting" www.timemachinemusic.org/2023/05/17/old-mine-universe-this-vast-array/

---------------Fan Comments ------------------

***Sea of Tranquility [Youtube Channel]***

"The Old Mine Universe record is an early favorite for my fav album of the year. Killer stuff."

I stumbled upon the Old Mine Universe album too. What a record! It’s a favorite of the year so far for me.

"Thanks for the recommendation of Old Mine Universe. Fine music. Just ordered a CD."

***666MrDoom [Youtube Channel]***

"Fantastic album .. worthy of pure seventies... thanks to dark skies, harsh landscapes, and the outer darkness."

"Esto merece escucharse con un par de cervezas lml"

"That is a great fucking album, man!! Damn!! You killed it"

"Guitarplay is how I like it !!! All are fine for my taste. Love it !!!

"Everything cool great release and band"

"Wow, that's beautiful"

"Good shit!"

"You've been Doomed"

***Weedian [Youtube Channel]***

"Loving this. Cracking album!"

"Nice!!! This just popped up. Normally I'd just move on but it sounded good so I let it keep playing. Glad I didn't move on, this is good stuff!!"

"7 seconds in and smashing the like button"

***Rock Freaks [Official Youtube Channel]***

"This is my first experience hearing these guys. There's some damn good shiznit on this album. Well done guys."

"Perfect"

"I can dig it, singer sounds a bit like ahmet zappa at times, very cool"

--------------About The Album ----------

This Vast Array should be played during "the blue hour" – that time after sunset which affords the opportunity to gaze behind the curtain of consciousness.

Songs like "The Duster", "No Mans Mesa" and "Vanishing Point" are songs born on myriad, solitary drives through the high deserts and canyons of the American southwest and Chile. Think: Hole in the Rock Road, Escalante Canyon Country, Valley of the Gods, the Turquoise Trail, and Valle de la Luna.

“Dark They Were”, “Gates of the Red Planet”, “Sixes and Sevens” and “Unearthed” contemplate the cosmos, spirits, heaven and earth, and the outer darkness. These songs are for stargazers and loners who are drawn to Dark Sky nights.

“My Shadow Devours” and “Cathedral of Tomorrow” explore more humanistic themes of loss, doubt, and difficult choices.

And then, there's “Cold Stream Guards” - an eight minute, multipart, fantasy-themed song about a nomad in an arctic world, drawing his final breaths. With nods to King Crimson, Rush, and even Jeff Buckley, this song is a "deep track" and includes no less than five guitar solos, mellotron, moog, acoustic guitar, and even cello.

[The title "This Vast Array" is a mixture of concepts. It's partly inspired by a long ago visit to the Very Large Array (VLA) in remote New Mexico, the vastness of the desert landscape, and the infinite array of stars visible in dark sky territory]

--------------Album Credits ----------

All songs written and recorded by Old Mine Universe.

This Vast Array was tracked between February and April 2022 in a converted farmhouse in Canada, overlooking the Rouge River - with a red-tail hawk standing guard.

Fact: Country legend, Kenny Rogers, used to visit the next cottage over back in the day.

Additional recordings occurred in Pocos de Caldas, Brazil.

Cello on "Cold Stream Guards" by Daniel Gonzales & Charlot Adonay Rivera Robles.

This Vast Array was mixed and mastered by Matt Kutoloski, of Sound Lab Studios, NYC.

Label: Witch City Music

The album is dedicated to Rick McVicar and Otto Ertl, two great guys and original fans.

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Old Mine Universe Toronto, Ontario

Old Mine Universe is a hard rock band from Canada and Brazil.

We're inspired by dark skies, harsh landscapes, and the outer darkness.

Old Mine Universe is:

Chris Pew - Vocals
Dave E. - Guitar
Todd McDaniel - Bass
Erickson Silva - Lead Guitar
Sol Batera - Drums
... more

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