Release
date: March
30th
2018.
Label: Southern
Lord Records.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
The
Thundering Heard –
Tracklisting
1.Quanah
Un Rama 11:24
2.Elk
Wolfv Hymn 08:21
3.Heavy
Hoof 07:21
4.Antlers
of Lightning 14:22
Line-Up
Tyler
Smith - Drums
Gentry
Densley - Vocals, Guitars
Review
Eagle
Twin return after a six year absence with their epic sounding new
album - The Thundering Herd. It's an album that sees Eagle Twin play
to their absolute maximum strength by playing their trademark
Drone/Doom sound with heavy elements of Psychedelic Sludge and Stoner
Metal being added for extra potency.
Opening
track - Quanah Un Rama - may have a slightly sounding mystical title
but the music anything but with the band playing a down-tuned style
of drone based Sludge/Stoner heavy riffs that will leave your hairs
standing on end. The duo of Tyler Smith and Gentry Densley play a
heavily wicked Drums and Guitar combination which has violent
outbursts of melodic Psychedelic Sludge Rock.
This album sees
something that Eagle Twin sounding quite friendly in places with
parts of the album very melodic whilst still remaining blissfully
heavy as hell. The instrumental work is what stands out as the vocals
only appear in brief moments on the opening track. Most of the songs
run between eight minutes to fourteen minutes long. So don't go
expecting Eagle Twin to give you an easy time of things. As they
don't.
Second
track - Ek Wolfv Hymn - opens at a much slower pace and less angrier
tone than the opening track with the band playing an almost
Post-Doom/Post-Rock melodic riff. Though the constant pounding
drumming points to heavier moments and Eagle Twin don't disappoint.
With the song adding gloomy atmospherics and that's thanks to the
majestic vocals and cool lyrics. The song does gather momentum in
both speed and volume with the drone based aspect adding a more
volatile atmosphere.
The
final two songs Heavy Hoof and Antlers Of Lightning are perhaps the
best songs on the album with Eagle Twin playing a heavier style of
Psychedelic Sludge/Doom Metal Riffs with a hint of drone based
madness. The music drifts in so many directions that it can be hard
to keep up at times but at least Eagle Twin keep the whole atmosphere
of the album brutally heavy. With the heavy psychedelic parts
allowing Eagle Twin's music to breathe more freely.
The
lyrics can be very sly and humorous at times but matches the bleak
sounds that the band excel at.
The
final song - Antlers Of Lightning - runs past the fourteen minute
mark and Eagle Twin play one final round of heavy distorted noises
where the music remains firmly in the bleak sounding underbelly of
heavy Sludge/Doom Metal riffs. The production on this album is
fearless with the sound being constantly threatening and heavy from
the start. Eagle Twin have never sounded so good.
The
Thundering Herd is perhaps Eagle Twin's most complete album to date.
If you're new to the world of Eagle Twin and want to see what all the
fuss is about then this is the best place to start. Long-time fans
will need to complete their Eagle Twin Record Collection with this
must have album. The Thundering Herd is a delicious and dark violent
audio treat.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Lauren at Rarely Unable PR for the promo. The Thundering Heard is
now available to buy from Southern Lord Records on CD/DD/Vinyl.
Links: