Many bands have found success paying tribute to the iconic sounds of the ’70s, but few acts have done so with the sheer sincerity of Vancouver’s Black Mountain. The band’s commitment to thickened riffs, ethereal atmospherics, and memorable hooks translates in new, engaging ways on the group’s latest album, IV. Titled like a definitive statement, the record plays out like one, too, recapturing what has made the sounds of decades past so endearing while keeping the group’s quintessential identity intact.

Black Mountain draws a clear dividing line between their new mindset and the approach of six years past, which birthed the relatively direct and concise Wilderness Heart. Album opener “Mothers of the Sun” drifts through an extended, ominous swell of organ and spectral vocals before bursting apart with a volcanic, Sabbath-esque riff. Later, the track completes itself with the same haunting organ. Sweeping tracks like these – and there are many – conjure another time and place as they thoroughly envelop the listener inside their protean walls.

For keyboardist Jeremy Schmidt, these extended, exploratory compositions are an integral part to the musical experience. “I like the long, expansive arrangements,” Schmidt explains. “I like being inside a musical world and staying there for a while, for long enough to look around and pay attention to the nuances that are happening. I would get bored if there wasn’t at least a big chunk of that going on.”

While every band member gets their moments to shine, Schmidt in particular gets to flex his creative muscles on IV. The dream-induced synth work of “Space at Bakersfield” recalls progressive rock classics like Pink Floyd’s “Echoes,’ while the bouncing, electronic blips of “Florian Saucer Attack” add an exciting, alien element to the track’s punk rock energy. “There was this era where rock bands were interested in keyboards,” Schmidt says, “[l]ike Blue Oyster Cult in 1980. They had keyboards peppered all over those heavy rock tunes. I was keen on bringing that element back in the context of the heavy rock band.”

Black Mountain has brought that attitude on the road, performing a number of the record’s songs live. For many rock bands, the introduction of bigger, bolder songwriting choices to the live experience could be difficult. But despite their ambition, Schmidt says it’s worked well.

“It hasn’t been a problem at all. From what we’ve heard, it sounded good. We just have to figure out what the essential elements are that give this song its character. There’s got to be a little give and take regarding how we approach the arrangements.”

Black Mountain will perform in Athens tomorrow night, June 21, at the Georgia Theatre and in Atlanta on Wednesday, June 22 at Terminal West. Supporting them on both nights will be Majeure. Doors in Athens open at 8 p.m. Admission is $12 in advance of $14 DOS. Doors in Atlanta open at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $15 in advance or $18 DOS.

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