25 Best Metal Albums Of The Decade
19. Elder - Dead Roots Stirring (2011)
Though later releases have seen Elder march closer to psychedelia and progressiveness, their sound has never been as driving as impactful as on Dead Roots Stirring, which kicks off with a perfect stoner rock opener in "Gemini" and keeps the grooves coming for much of its 51:35 runtime.
Dead Roots Stirring's sound is huge. Montainous. Though the instrumentation isn't riddled with complexity, its power shines through in the mix. Thick, heavy, and beefy, the guitar work is particularly satisfying, while the instrumental passages meandering without ever losing sight of their course. It's just a wonderful slab of heavy, rhythmic rock.