Jeff Caxide (formerly of progressive post-metal bands ISIS and Red Sparowes) returns anew with this project, and it's a continuation of the ambient textures that his former bands experimented with. Virtually gone are the thundering riffage (though it's hinted at here), and the grunted vocals. In fact, Crone is entirely instrumental. But it works beautifully, almost leaving behind the "rock" tendencies completely. Opening with the Stars Of The Lid-style drones of "What You Dream Of", Caxide explores rich and sonorous soundtrack music. The album's highlight has to be "The Silver Hammer", which begins all lush and ambient, gradually building up to something larger, heavier, and monolithic, finally evolving into a shimmering shoegaze-drone-meets-riff soundscape. Absolutely wonderful! "Cellar Holes From A Lifetime Ago" is a floating set of tones and drones, and the title track is another mellow track that wouldn't be out of place on an old 4AD Records compilation.
More ambient and soundtrack-oriented than his previous bands, Caxide proves he's capable of many moods and textures. "Endless Midnight" is a fine album that shows the future is bright for this progeny/offshoot of ISIS. (Translation Loss)
Isis site
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