Earth | |
|---|---|
 Earth perform live in 2014:Dylan Carlson (left) andAdrienne Davies. | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Olympia, Washington, U.S.[1] |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1989–1997, 2003–present |
| Labels | |
| Members | |
| Past members | List
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| Website | earthseattle |
Earth is an Americanrock band originally based inOlympia, Washington and led by the guitaristDylan Carlson.[1][7] Initially active between 1989 and 1997, their early work is characterized by heavilydistorted guitar,drones, and lengthy,minimalist song structures; their 1993 debut albumEarth 2 is recognized as a pioneering work of thedrone metal genre.[1][3] The band resurfaced in the early 2000s, with their subsequent output reducing the distortion and incorporating elements ofcountry,jazz rock, andfolk.[3] Earth's current lineup consists of Carlson and drummerAdrienne Davies. Often Bill Herzog is on bass as well as other Earth members, past present and future.
Dylan Carlson founded the band in 1989 along withSlim Moon and Greg Babior, taking the title "Earth" fromBlack Sabbath's prior name. Carlson has remained the core of the band's line-up throughout its changes. At the time of Earth's formation, Carlson was conceptually influenced byminimalist composers such asLa Monte Young as well the bandsKing Crimson andSlayer.[8]
Earth 2 was described as a "milestone" byTerrorizer'sDayal Patterson, which he described as "a three-track, 75 minute deluge of feedback and distorted guitars that marked the blueprint for what Carlson at the time coined 'ambient metal'".[3] Carlson was a close friend ofKurt Cobain, who sang lead vocals in the song "Divine and Bright", from a demo included on the re-release of the live albumSunn Amps and Smashed Guitars. Because police had twice confiscated guns from Cobain inside a single year, Cobain had Carlson purchase a shotgun for him on March 30, 1994. Cobain told Carlson the gun was for protection. Cobain woulduse the shotgun to kill himself six days later.[9][10] The band went on hiatus after the release ofPentastar: In the Style of Demons due to Carlson's personal problems, including heroin addiction, rehabilitation, his connection to Kurt Cobain's death, and incarceration.[3] Carlson attributed the break primarily to his heroin addiction:
At one point, music was everything to me. Then suddenly it wasn't and something else was there, and that was something destructive and damaging. Heroin is part of your life - you don't function without it. It's not like, "I need to get it to write," it's at a much more fundamental level to your existence, like, "I need it to get out of bed."[3]
Earth reappeared around 2000[3] with a markedly different sound. Its music was still drone based, slow-paced, and lengthy, but it now included a drummer and featured strong elements ofcountry music. Remarking on the stylistic change, Carlson was quick to point to the continuity with Earth's previous sound:
In 2001 I started writing again. Originally I had thought it would be something radically different and if it had been I probably wouldn't have stuck with the name. I thought about doing something different at first, but no matter what I do there's always going to be certain elements that are the same, like the slow tempos and repetition. So for whatever reason, I can't help myself - it was still Earth.[3]
The press release forHex; Or Printing in the Infernal Method (2005) stated the band's music shows "the influence of country guitarists/songwriters such as:Duane Eddy,Merle Haggard,Roy Buchanan and fuses it with the vibe of epic visionary composer:Ennio Morricone."[11] The press release forThe Bees Made Honey in the Lion's Skull (2008) referenced "the more adventurous San Francisco bands of the late 1960s and 1970s, and the more spiritually aware and exciting forms of Jazz-Rock from the same era".[12] The press release forAngels of Darkness, Demons of Light I describes "inspiration from both British Folk-Rock bandsthe Pentangle andFairport Convention".[13]
On January 27, 2026, Earth cancelled a scheduled concert at the TPO social centre in Bologna, Italy, shortly before their performance, after objecting to the presence of aPalestinian flag by the stage. The supporting act had already concluded their performance at the time of the cancellation.[14] The late decision resulted in a reported financial loss of approximately €5,000 for TPO, which subsequently launched a crowdfunding campaign to cover the costs.[15][16]
Current
Touring
Former / All
Studio albums
Collaborations
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