Source’s thoughtfully balanced blend of crunching prog metal and heady, spiritual elements stems from their ‘consciousness-based’ mindset. The trio’s third album is “about forming unity between our physical and cosmic, or ethereal selves”, and was made in their own studio, on a mountain in their home state of Colorado.
The title track opens with tinkling, treated windchimes, but its huge riff takes no prisoners – even if guitarist/ singer Ben Gleason’s vocal style is pure, sonorous and pretty un-metal. Urgent single False Prophet is heavy in both word and musical deed, while challenging 14-minute end piece Pupa shows off the trio’s everevolving musicianship.
Source’s distinctive, mindful flavour comes through the tabla tones of The Insipidness, the gentle acoustic ecowarning Origin, and electronic intermezzi Nakatapurcinalick and Larva. Comparisons with A Perfect Circle or Chevelle don’t quite do them justice, and even since 2019’s Totality, Source sound like they’ve grown in confidence. Ethereal Self marks them out clearly as ones to watch in their field.