Habits
Habits makes room for a surprisingly gentle side of heavy rock. Elephant Tree keep the thick guitar sound and firm rhythms of stoner music, then add melodic voices, warm synths and quieter acoustic passages. The result has weight without feeling hostile. Its strongest songs are inviting enough to reach beyond the usual audience for slow, fuzzy riffs.
The brief opening atmosphere of Wake.Repeat (Intro) leads into Sails, where the album quickly finds its shape. Large guitar sounds meet a chorus lifted by vocal harmonies and keyboards. The music is forceful, but the melody keeps it open. It is a clear introduction to a record that finds much of its character in that balance.
Faceless puts the rhythm section further forward. A sudden change in the drumming breaks up the song's relaxed movement before it settles into a more spacious feel. The bass and snare give the guitars something solid to work around, helping the shifting layers remain connected.
Exit the Soul takes a softer vocal sound into a much thicker arrangement. Synths add a floating quality, while a strained guitar solo roughens the sound. The gradual slowdown at the end makes a useful change of pace.
The Fall Chorus provides another change through its acoustic guitar and more exposed singing. Bird then builds the energy again, using atmosphere and a strong chorus to give its extended playing direction. These shifts stop the album from relying on guitar tone alone.
Wasted and Broken Nails bring the heavier side back into focus, with expressive lead guitar and a closing passage that moves from delicate picking towards a much larger, fuzzier sound. The vocals remain central throughout, providing clear melodic shapes against the surrounding noise.
The hazy production and relaxed mood mean Habits is less suited to anyone wanting a sharp, immediate attack from every riff. That softness is also a large part of its appeal. Elephant Tree find personality in the connection between heavy instruments and tuneful, approachable songs. There is real care behind a record that makes this combination feel so easy.
