Extra-Capsular Extraction was the first EP Earth had recorded, though there is an infamous demo from 1990 featuring a track with Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain on vocals. Many may not know that in Earth’s early days, Cobain and Earth’s guitarist Dylan Carlson were good friends. Cobain also has a guest spot on the second-part of the title track, doing some backing vocals underneath Carlson’s clean, hazy singing. It’s the only instance of vocals on the EP, which is instrumental the rest of the way.
While comprised of just three tracks, Extra-Capsular Extraction goes well over the half-hour mark. The band was still working out the small details in their sound, but there are a few interesting ideas expressed. As mentioned in the last paragraph, the title track is split into two easy-to-digest parts. While variety is not in the band’s vernacular, both parts still find a way to keep the listener attuned. It still takes some patience, but the payoff is much more transparent than on the last track.
Though “Extra-Capsular Extraction” is a beast in itself, the band’s formal introduction came with the final song, “Ouroboros Is Broken.” Easily breaking double digits, this ball of guitar feedback and minimal programmed drums is what drone is all about, warts and all. The riffs ring out for up to 10-15 seconds, the same ones being stamped out on repeat for what seems like an eternity. It’s an exercise in punishment, and one that will only be endured by the toughest of eardrums.
This EP foreshadowed how slow, excruciating, and intangible Earth would become. They became known as one of the founding fathers of the drone doom genre that everybody tried to mimic years later. Extra-Capsular Extraction is a tough 30 minutes to sit through, especially for casual fans.
It’s worth getting a hold of just to hear what it was like for a band to work with no prior blueprints in forging a sound all their own. For being a main factor in jumpstarting drone doom as a legitimate genre, Extra-Capsular Extraction gets the nod for this week’s Retro Recommendation.
