The Lumbar Endeavor: www.facebook.com/thelumbarendeavor

For the first time, this phenomenal re-imaging of Sleep's timeless classic, "Dopesmoker", from the supergroup The Lumbar Endeavor is available on cassette.

"homage"
noun: special honor or respect shown publicly, to pay tribute to

This is a tribute, cover recording—"a reimagined offering that includes the riffs you know, variations on others, with brass and string sections... a new sonic adventure for all"—from three men who wish to share a different version of a classic release by pioneers on an incredible smoke-filled journey through space and time. The Lumbar Endeavor, normally just Aaron Edge, welcomes George Chamberlin (of Ritual Earth, Autumn) and Aaron Walters (of Akimbo) to round out this monolithic release.

"Jerusalem" and "Dopesmoker" are two versions of the third studio album by the American heavy band known as Sleep. The music for these albums comprises an extended hour-length piece (either split into multiple shorter tracks or presented as a single track), developed over four years and recorded in 1996 under the auspices of Sleep's label at the time, London Records. All versions of the album—released in many formats on different labels over the years—receive high praise from music critics, who described it as 'a high-water mark in both the stoner metal and doom metal genres'.

REVIEWS:

"In a stunning undertaking, The Lumbar Endeavour have ascended the holiest of riff mountains. The end result is nothing short of a masterful, invigorating homage to an icon. Guitar harmonies, keyboards, even violin (and possibly Oboe?!), lowww end notes and blistering psychedelic guitar solos...'A Holy Pilgrimage to Jerusalem' has it all. Given the vast popularity of Dopesmoker this is a courageous endeavour indeed, however this is the opposite of blasphemy. Rather, its riff reverence, a dazzlingly brilliant reworking overflowing with inspired ideas. Like the original, maximum volume yields maximum results... I mean every word. It's just nuts man, I'm neck deep into it again right now, so many cool surprises."—Hand Of Doom

“‘A Holy Pilgrimage To Jerusalem’ is a totally different thing to the original, as The Lumbar Endeavor has added different sound effects, is multi-layered, and quite progressive with different instruments being played on this version including cello, classical guitar, organ, synths, and violins that all offer a record that’s quite contemporary and classical compared to the original version. Aaron Walters adds some face-melting guitar solos that are quite vivid and freaky in places, especially on ‘Pt. Two’… it works. The album has more droned out effects, psychedelic sound and spaced out ideas, with a more ‘drugged out’ feel, when compared to the original. The instrumental work on this album is first rate from everyone involved. George’s vocals are both a respectful homage to Al Cisneros and their own thing. Aaron Edge has added a trippy Middle Eastern vibe into this record with certain sounds, themes and textures that make this one of the best cover albums I’ve heard in years! One other thing that stands out is the first rate production values, aggressively loud and also self contained when the quieter moments appear. The droned out vision of the original album remains intact here, but with a more diverse sonic attitude that perhaps die-hard fans of SLEEP will truly appreciate. This version is a bold, complex and psychedelic head-trip that is a loving homage to SLEEP and another wonderfully adventurous record from The Lumbar Endeavor—who are fast becoming one of the most interesting bands within the doom/sludge metal underground scene.”
—Steve Howe (outlawsofthesun.blogspot)

"Some things are so artistically monolithic that even those who create them are left in awe with the results. Where some would balk at any attempts to reimagine the near hour long peregrination or wail at such efforts being blasphemy, Aaron Edge, George Chamberlin and Aaron Walters of The Lumbar Endeavor take on the colossal task with blessed reverence and humble deference. This is not a practice in heresy, but a purposeful veneration of a classic. The result, 'A Holy Pilgrimage to Jerusalem', a six-part masterclass in molasses laden sludge that will have you wandering astral realms, mystical deserts, and meditatively pacing your bedroom to the Lumbar Endeavor's latest tribute for your earholes."—Mike Kaminski (Sonny, Dada, and Moloch)

"It takes an extra deal of courage and dedication to tackle a classic album, let alone one that is a genre defining one, because, honestly, how will you approach something already deemed to be at its peak form? The Lumbar Endeavor shows you how! This is an homage in its purest sense. Without deviating from the main road the musicianship shown here takes on you alternative paths. Embark on this pilgrimage with renewed faith."—CVSPE (cvspe.bigcartel)

"I recently embarked on a familiar sonic journey. A path I've walked for decades now, yet the intimacy of this particular adventure is so cemented in my psyche that hearing The Lumbar Endeavor's present release has totally blown me away... again! To cover/reimagine 'Jerusalem' or 'Dopesmoker'—as the full recording has become more known today—is truly a mammoth undertaking. The caravan of Aaron D.C. Edge & friends has managed to make this colossal album sound fresh and yet pay tribute to a band that has inspired and influenced musicians & weedians alike to blaze their own path through this riff filled land."—Pete Majors (Harassor, QAALM)