Release
date: Oct 22nd 2015. Label: Art As Catharsis. Formats: DD/Vinyl
Sheltering
Sky: Tracklisting
1.
Dead River
2.
Echoes
3.
Cursed
4.
Red Earth
5.
The Barrow Stones 13:36
6.
Black Waters
7.
Dying Words
8.
Sacrifice
Band
Members:
Brendan
Kim
James
Michael
Robin
Review:
Drowning
Horse were an unknown entity to me a few months ago until they
premièred one of the new songs from their soon to be released album
– Sheltering Sky. I finally received their album to review and it
literally blew my fucking mind. There's no way denying that
Sheltering Sky is perhaps the heaviest album I've heard this year.
Drowning
Horse continuous use of punishing drone riffs mixed with instances of
Doom, Sludge, Crust and Post-Metal make Sheltering Sky one of the
most emotionally involving and brutal experiences I've heard this
year. Some people will say they've heard heavier albums than this but
it's the way Drowning Horse deliver their music. Their brutal and
unflinching in their approach. Even on some of the albums quieter
drone based moments, there is still a sense of danger lurking behind
every corner. The vocals drift between hardcore based death growls to
the more eerie based chanting.
The
music brings back memories of early Earth matched against Neurosis
style ferocious Sludge/Post-Metal rhythms. The album is the perfect
balance between light and dark. The Post-Rock interludes are dark as
they're soaked in Drone based noises especially on the opening two
tracks – Dead River and Echoes. Dead River opens with an epic drone
metal riff before the guitars add a nightmarish presence. The vocals
are etched in gloom and misery. Drowning Horse are here to bring your
nightmares to life.
Second
track – Echoes – is one of four epic songs on the album and this
is where Drowning Horse show who they really are and it ain't a
pretty picture. Long drawn out drone based noises with eerie chants
soon give way to heavier pummelling sludge/post-metal guitar tones
with the atmosphere turning quite sinister. Fans of Neurosis, Earth
and Whitehorse will be in there element here. The album stays in this
dark and violent tone for the full 75 minutes. If you're looking for
an uplifting album, look elsewhere as Drowning Horse are the
embodiment of sonic based torture.
Third
Track – Cursed – is the albums longest track running at 17
minutes in length. It's another punishing exercise for Drowning Horse
to test your limits with as the music draws inspiration from all
corners of Sludge, Post-Metal, Drone, Doom and even Crust. It's a
highly original offering as the band create delicate moments of calm
against the heavier nightmarish riffs. It's possibly the stand-out
track on the album but it's more of an endurance exercise for you to
survive from.
On
the shorter tracks such as Red Earth, Black Waters and Dying Worlds,
Drowning Horse prove they're just as capable in creating heavy barren
soundscapes as seen on the albums lengthier tracks. I would say the
shorter tracks are possibly the more experimental as the band have
less time as they create a more direct approach with their music. The
shorter tracks have a slight BONG influence with the drone/doom
movement lurking in the air. Though Drowning Horse add a more
sinister approach to their music with the mix of death based growls
and doomier guitars.
Closing
track – Sacrifice – is another stand-out track on the album as
Drowning Horse leave you with a sense of wanting more. It's a
beautifully played and written track and a great way to end the album
with. It's a final round of heavy pounding riffs that drift between
calm and violent slabs of destructive noises.
The
album sounds incredible from start to finish. I'm going to go out on
a limb here and say that Sheltering Sky is my favourite album of
2015. It will end up as my No 1 album of 2015 as I don't think
nothing is going to top this incredible experience. Sheltering Sky is
a masterpiece Drowning Horse is a band we will be hearing a lot more
from in the years to come.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Lachlan at Art As Catharsis for the promo. Sheltering Sky will be
available to buy on DD/Vinyl from October 22nd
2015 via Art As Catharsis Records.
Links:
