Friday 6 October 2017

Young Hunter - Dayhiker (Album Review)


Release date: October 13th 2017. Label: The Fear And The Void Recordings. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Dayhiker – Tracklisting

1.In the Shadow of the Serpent
2.The Feast
3.Entered Apprentice
4.Hunger
5.Dark Age
6.Black Mass
7.Night Hiker

Members

Benjamin Blake
Sam Dean
Grant Pierce
Sara Pinnell
Erik Wells

Review

Atmospheric Stoner Rockers – Young Hunter – return with their epic new album – Dayhiker. This is perhaps Young Hunter's most grown up and accomplished album to date. As the band create a wide range of different sounds that harks back to the days of 70s Classic Stadium Rock.

Opening track – In The Shadow Of The Serpent – is a Doom/Psych/Stoner Rock affair with Sara Pinnell on fine form from the start. The sound is a mixture of All Them Witches style gloomy Stoner Rock and Fleetwood Mac progressive sounds. The song is quite heavy and features top-notch frantic fast-paced guitar riffs courtesy of Benjamin and Erik. Maybe this isn't the best song to open the album with but it gives you a brief glimpse on what to expect on the album.

Second track – The Feast – is another heavy doom and gloom offering with the band creating an eerie and cold hearted song. The psychedelic moments littered throughout the song make this one of the standout tracks on the album. The dual vocals of Benjamin & Sara add a real sense of gloomy and heartfelt lyricism. This track could be considered a “love-song” in a way. As the lyrics are very emotional and most of all, everything feels and sounds so real.

Third track – Entered Apprentice – is a more soulful and blues rock take with Young Hunter adding a more “Jazz” feel. This is a side we haven't experienced from Young Hunter before. It's more experimental compared to the other songs on the album. The organs from Sara offer a more psychedelic and alternative style of music from the band.

The other songs on the album – Hunger, Dark Age and the exceptional Black Mass sees Young Hunter create bleak 70s Stadium/Doom Rock sounding riffs matched against emotionally charged lyrics and vocals. Maybe the “Folk-Rock” elements of the album doesn't quite match the heavier Doom/Stoner Rock riffs but that doesn't stop Dayhiker being Young Hunter finest album to date.

The album sounds exquisite from the start and that's down to the fabulous recording, mixing and mastering skills of one certain Tim Green (The Fucking Champs). Tim has worked with bands such as Comets On Fire, Earthless, The Melvins and Wolves In The Throne Room in the past.

Dayhiker is a true work of art in places and it's an album that could see Young Hunter expand their profile way past their Doom/Stoner fan-base and perhaps into the mainstream.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Jadd at Magnetic Eye Records for the promo. Dayhiker will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via The Fear And The Void Recordings from October 13th 2017.

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