The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Month
  • Books + Movies
  • About
16
new
SPILL NEW MUSIC: QUEEN KWONG RECLAIMS HER STRENGTH AND POWER IN SEDUCTIVE AND PROVOCATIVE VIDEO “THE MOURNING SONG”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: TELECOM – “RAMON”
SPILL NEWS: DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL TO JOIN COUNTING CROWS FOR BANSHEE SEASON TOUR
SPILL NEW MUSIC: DEF LEPPARD WITH THE ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA NEW ALBUM ‘DRASTIC SYMPHONIES’ SET FOR RELEASE ON MAY 19
SPILL NEWS: LOREENA MCKENNITT RETURNS TO 24 U.S. CITIES THIS FALL WITH ‘THE VISIT REVISITED’ TOUR
SPILL NEW MUSIC: THE REVIVALISTS RELEASE POLITICALLY CHARGED ALBUM TRACK “THE LONG CON” | MORE TOUR DATES
SPILL NEW MUSIC: TORONTO’S A PRIMITIVE EVOLUTION RELEASE VIDEO FOR MOTÖRHEAD COVER “ACE OF SPADES”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: VOX SOMNIA – “SINS”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: THIRSTY CURSES – “PUNK ROCK RUINED MY LIFE”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: THE PRETTY FLOWERS – “BABY FOOD”
SPILL NEWS: FEIST RELEASES NEW SINGLE “BORROW TROUBLE”
SPILL BOOK REVIEW: TARA MACLEAN – SONG OF THE SPARROW
SPILL FEATURE: TEARING DOWN THE PILLARS OF THEOCRACY – A CONVERSATION WITH OV SULFUR GUITARIST CHASE WILSON
SPILL NEWS: KILLING JOKE RELEASE BRAND NEW SINGLE “FULL SPECTRUM DOMINANCE” VIA SPINEFARM
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: JULY TALK w/ CROWN LANDS @ MASSEY HALL, TORONTO
SPILL NEW MUSIC: CHRISTIAN TURNER – “BARELY LISTENING”
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Month
  • Books + Movies
  • About
  • Spill Menu
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Festivals
    • Portraits
    • Headlines
      • News
      • Contests
      • Events
      • Entertainment Headlines
      • Concert Listings
      • Toronto Concert Venues
    • New Music
      • Premieres
      • Track Of The Day
    • Track Of The Month
    • Books + Movies
    • About
Album Reviews
437
previous article
Spill Artist Portrait by Daniel Adams: Florence & The Machine
next article
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS - BRILL BRUISERS

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: ELEPHANT STONE – THE THREE POISONS

Elephant Stone
The Three Poisons

Hidden Pony Records
RATING

Elephant Stone’s new album The Three Poisons, continues to be a musical fusion of East meets West, but above all else, it is a beautiful blending of artistic maturity and discovery. Unlike their last release, which was recorded live, this is a more mature thematic endeavour.

Having the opportunity to experiment in the studio, is perhaps the key reason why this recording might be one of the best albums of 2014. I do not say this lightly. In a landscape which suffocates the listener with a plethora of unfiltered noise, streaming mindlessly from many platforms, there is nothing like The Three Poisons.

Elephant Stone are a hard working band. Literally! Although they are pursuing their dream of making a sustainable living from their music, at the moment they are working full time jobs, recording, and touring. One wonders whether this has seeped into their musical consciousness, making the album refreshing and timely.

The Three Poisons was inspired by the Buddhist teaching which lists ignorance, attachment, and aversion as the primary causes that keep human beings trapped in unhappiness. Ignorance is the root poison, leading to the other two. This is a noticeable departure from their previous self titled effort. For the first time they have a collection of songs that is unified by a common theme. This thematic approach is explored in each individual track. Most notable is the song Knock You From Your Mountain. This Dylanesque protest song, fused with Eastern rhythm and a touch of Pink Floyd, comments on ignorance of those fighting wars, and those of us who watch the news, yet blissfully remain ignorant bystanders.

There are many other gems on the album that require their proper turn and point out a deep musical chemistry and intuitiveness between Gavin and Rishi. The western electric guitar and the eastern sitar speak with a single tone and purpose. Throughout the album one has the surreal impression as though their instruments had the capability of finishing each other’s sentences.

The band as a whole needs to be congratulated for contributing such a recording to our rich Canadian landscape. A tour is already planned, but compose your excitement and give this The Three Poisons a good listen

-Greg Kieszkowski (Twitter @GregK72)

elephantstonemusic.com

STAY UP-TO-DATE
WITH OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER!

* Mandatory Field

Check your inbox or spam folder now (just in case!) to confirm your subscription.

Item Reviewed

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: ELEPHANT STONE – THE THREE POISONS

Author

Greg Kieszkowski

Here's what we think...
Spill Rating
Fan Rating
Rate Here
New Criteria
10
—
8.0
Total Spill Rating
—
Total Fan Rating
You have rated this
Album Reviews
album reviewselephant stonethe three poisons
album reviews, elephant stone, the three poisons
About the Author
Greg Kieszkowski
Grzegorz Kieszkowski originally hails from Bydgoszcz, Poland. After his father was released from prison in 1984, for his involvement with the Solidarity movement, Greg and his family escaped to Canada in 1985. He makes Cobourg his home, along with his wife and two small children. Greg is a graduate of York University, with a double major in English and Philosophy. Music has always been in his blood, and although his tastes have matured, he will always have a soft spot for the Metal days of the late 1980’s. He is a full time English teacher and a professional photographer. Part of the allure of writing is the possibility of conversation, and he would love to hear your comments and opinions. Please feel free to visit his personal website - grzegorzkieszkowski.com.
RELATED ARTICLES
album reviewselephant stone
 
8.0
Delerium
9.9

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DELERIUM – SIGNS

by Aaron Badgley on March 10, 2023
Delerium Signs Metropolis Records It has been seven years since the last studio album from Delerium, Mythologie) The band has returned with a new album, Signs, and the time between albums seems to have done them well. Delirium has delivered a [...]
 
9.0
The Levellers
10

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LEVELLERS COLLECTIVE (THE LEVELLERS) – TOGETHER ALL THE WAY

by Aaron Badgley on March 10, 2023
Levellers Collective (The Levellers) Together All The Way On The Fiddle Recordings The Levellers formed in 1988 and their debut album was released two years later in 1990 (A Weapon Called The Word). Together All The Way is their 13th album, and  [...]
 
8.0
Eyelids
9.7

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: EYELIDS – COLOSSAL WASTE OF LIGHT

by Joseph Mastel on March 10, 2023
Eyelids Colossal Waste Of Light Jealous Butcher Records Eyelids, a band from Portland, OR, has released their fourth LP, Colossal Waste Of Light, and this will be the first one featuring new bass player Victor Krummenacher. Sometimes changes in [...]
 
9.0
H. Hawkline

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: H. HAWKLINE – MILK FOR FLOWERS

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on March 10, 2023
H. Hawkline Milk For Flowers PIAS Somehow, Welsh singer songwriter H. Hawkline (Huw Evans) has been lurking in the shadows, even after five excellent solo albums, being a name known to listeners as a long-time Cate Le Bon collaborator. Well, [...]
 
7.0
Vilivant
10

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VILIVANT – RUNNING ON EMPTY

by Gerrod Harris on March 10, 2023
Vilivant Running On Empty Independent Following a series of singles released over the course of 2022 (“Running On Empty” and “Drown”), Toronto’s Vilivant has returned with their debut full-length album, Running On Empty. Led by singer Julia [...]

Latest Album Reviews
View All
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DELERIUM – SIGNS
8.0
9.9
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LEVELLERS COLLECTIVE (THE LEVELLERS) – TO...
9.0
10
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: EYELIDS – COLOSSAL WASTE OF LIGHT
8.0
9.7
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: H. HAWKLINE – MILK FOR FLOWERS
9.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VILIVANT – RUNNING ON EMPTY
7.0
10

STAY UP-TO-DATE
WITH OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER!

* Mandatory Field

Check your inbox or spam folder now (just in case!) to confirm your subscription.

Tweets by @spillmagazine

SPILL MAGAZINE MENU
  • Home | The Spill Magazine
  • Premieres
  • Track Of The Month
  • Album Reviews
  • Books + Movies
  • Features
  • Live Reviews
  • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • News
  • Events
  • Entertainment Headlines
  • Concert Listings
  • Toronto Concert Venues
  • About Us
  • Contests
  • New Music
  • Contributors
  • TOTD
  • Privacy Policy
  • The Scene Unseen
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2023 | The Spill Magazine
All Rights Reserved.

TRENDING RIGHT NOW
   
 
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: WITHERED HAND – “WAKING UP”
848
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GODSMACK – LIGHTING UP THE SKY
813
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DELERIUM – SIGNS
779
 
SPILL NEWS: CLAN OF XYMOX TOUR NORTH AMERICA
720
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BOB DYLAN – FRAGMENTS – TIME OUT OF MIND SESSIONS (1996-1997) THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOL. 17
682
 
SPILL NEWS: RICKIE LEE JONES NEVER DID FOLLOW THE RULES | ‘PIECES OF TREASURE’ OUT APRIL 28 (BMG MODERN)
564
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: ALTER BRIDGE w/ MAMMOTH WVH @ HISTORY, TORONTO
516
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE ROLLING STONES – GRRR LIVE!
500
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: STEEL PANTHER – ON THE PROWL
451
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOHN FOXX – AVENHAM
431
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: ON THE BLUE CLASSIC ROCK MUSIC CRUISE 2023
345
 
SPILL FEATURE: THE GOBLIN KING & GOTHIC HOMEMAKING – A CONVERSATION WITH AURELIO VOLTAIRE
337
 
SPILL FEATURE: THE GIRL IS CRYING IN HER LATTE – A CONVERSATION WITH RUSSELL MAEL & RON MAEL OF SPARKS
326
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINES