Release
date: February 12th
2016. Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD
Mountain
Tamer – S/T – Tracklisting
1.Mindburner
2.Knew
3.Dunes
Of The Mind
4.Vixen
5.Wolf
In The Streets
6.Sum
People
7.
Satans Waiting
8.Pharosite
Band
Members:
Andru(guitar/lead
vocals/loud noises)
Casey
Garcia(Drums/vocals/art design)
Dave
Teget(Lead Bass/vocals/private security)
Review:
Mountain
Tamer’s self-titled debut album is being released on Argonauta
Records and these guys are a strange signing for Argonauta Records to
make. As they’re very different to the usual bands and artists that
the label normally makes. Argonauta normally sign some of the loudest
Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal bands around. However Mountain Tamer’s
sound is classed as Psych/Stoner Rock with the emphasis firmly being
on the Retro/Vintage sound that’s becoming quite popular.
I’m
not complaining as Mountain Tamer’s debut album is a celebration of
all things Retro/Psych/Stoner Rock. This album has a certain vintage
Psych feel to it and the guys add a more modern Doom/Stoner Rock
sound. The album can be very loud at times just not as loud from
bands I’ve reviewed recently from Argonauta Records.
Opening
track – Mind Burner – is a trippy mind expanding song packed full
of retro-style sounds. The album has a lo-fi vintage feel to it as it
sounds it was recorded on actual vintage stereo equipment. Though
it’s the music which impresses the most. These guys worship at the
almighty church of Black Sabbath, Cream, Hawkwind and many other
legendary bands of that era. The drumming is perhaps the most
impressive thing here as it drives this song from the start. Add
crazy vocals spliced with far out lyrics and you have a recipe for a
thrilling Psych Rock experience.
Second
track – Knew – is another strong offering from Mountain Tamer
with the band growing ever more confident with their Psych/Stoner
Rock surroundings. The vocals can be quite jarring at times but it’s
the music that saves the day once more with the band throwing down
impressive jam-based riffs that the most experienced power trio’s
will find very hard to beat. As before the sound of the album is very
lo-fi and it may take a while to get used to the overall sound. Maybe
the band could of added more volume to the mix but it shouldn’t
really detract from your enjoyment of the album.
Third
track – Dunes Of The Mind – carries on the trippy journey as the
band try their hand at some early-QOTSA style desert rock
atmospherics. Mountain Tamer decide to experiment with their sound by
adding glitch based noises and fast-paced solos that left my head in
a spin. It’s one of the standout tracks as Mountain Tamer throw
everything at you and I mean everything. A beautifully played messy
affair and I mean that in a good way. It’s perhaps the more chaotic
track on the album where every member is trying to take the lead and
no-one succeeds. The riffs are intense along with impressive drumming
once again from Casey.
Fourth
track – Vixen – is another song where the band throw caution to
the wind and follow their own destructive Psych/Stoner Rock path. The
vocals take a more doomier based approach with the distorted riffs
being played at a very low level. The bass guitar is amped to the max
as Mountain Tamer seem to opt for a drone based atmosphere for
certain parts of the song. They soon return to the earlier sounds of
the album.
The
second half of the album carries on the same style of music from the
first half though the band do try their hand at different styles of
vocals and melodies especially on the fifth track – Wolf. It’s
perhaps the most Stoner Rock sounding song on the album as the band
keep things nice and simple for another exciting tale of Retro/Psych
based Rock.
Mountain
Tamer already have a great reputation within the Psych/Stoner Rock
scene as they’ve been around since 2010. It’s hard to believe
it’s took them six years to release their debut album. This is a
type of album that is sure to get these guys a wider fan-base as it
ticks the right boxes for all serious fans of Psych/Stoner Rock.
Overall this is an excellent debut album from Mountain Tamer though
it will take a few listens to fully enjoy this trippy and far out
experience.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Barbara at NeeCee Agency and Gero at Argonauta Records for the
promo. Mountain Tamer will be released on CD/DD from February 12th
2016 via Argonauta Records.
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