The prospect of an album of instrumental prog-stoner work-outs is not something likely to get many pulses racing. Similarly, records made by prodigiously talented musicians can suffer from an emphasis on technicality over soul, particularly when lyrics and the human voice are absent from proceedings. That Earthbound largely enthralls is testament to a newfound willingness on the part of its creators to cut loose – and deliver massive riffs. On previous offerings, Norwegian trio Kanaan have tended towards a jazzier vision of rock, whereas here the thunderous fuzz of Return To The Tundrasphere is fuelled by thick-but-piercing lead guitar lines. Any lingering hints of politeness are swiftly dispelled by the distorted psychedelia of Pink Riff. This admirably wayward freak-out se...