Release
date: August
2nd
2019.
Label: Ripple
Music.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Canyons
– Tracklisting
1.The
Thief
2.A
Joyless King
3.Drowning
Bird
4.The
Fisherman's Vow
5.Seas
Between
6.Hand
of Gold, Man of Stone
7.The
Oak
8.Fathoms
9.Thiefsong
Members
Adam
Nohe - Drums/Vocals
Jack
Thomas - Guitar/Vocals
Seth
Bostick - Bass
Zach
Kaufman - Guitar
Review
Horseburner
new album The Thief is an album that will appeal to fans of Baroness,
Mastodon and Thin Lizzy. As the band play a highly progressive sound
that pays homage to those great bands on this album whilst still
forging ahead creating their own wildly addictive sound.
Opening
song – The Thief – is a two-minute plus Psychedelic Sludge Rock
song that shows you Horseburner mean business with this album. The
song starts really slow before moving onto heavier progressive
Sludge/Stoner Metal riffs that sadly don’t stay around for long
before the song ultimately end.
Second
song – A Joyless King – opens with a classic Heavy Metal sound
that has a slight NWOBHM feel but still sees the band playing a more
modern sounding Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal atmosphere. The song has
quite an adventurous and rebellious spirit that can be heard in the
background. The album starts to weave an intriguing story with the
almost “fantasy” based lyrics though it’s the music and
fantastic vocals that save the day.
Third
track – Drowning Bird – is a faster and more aggressive style of
music that pays homage to Thin Lizzy in many ways. Fast-paced riffs
and the classic sounding “Twin Guitars” working almost against
each other than with each other. The vocals from insert name later
are quite gloomy in places and matches the sombre mood the band
create and play with their music. The second half of the song brings
a frantic and almost Thrash delivery from the band.
Fourth
song – The Fisherman’s View – opens with an eerie folk style
guitar before the heavy sludgy grooves appear that bring a more
destructive energy to play. The song benefits from top-notch vocals
and OTT lyrics that prove Horseburner mean business with this album.
Perhaps the heaviest song on the album with the band playing a wide
range of different style of music that leaves you wanting more.
Fifth
song – Seas Between – is another superbly played instrumental
song that follows the same structure as the opening song The Thief.
This song has a more personal and reflective feel compared to the
other songs on the album.
The
band don’t shy away in playing some of the heaviest moments on the
second half of the album with Horseburner carry on playing their own
hypnotic blend of Progressive Sludge/Stoner on great songs such as
Insert Name Later, The Oak and Fathoms.
My
only disappointment with the album is the choice of song the album
ends with. Thiefsong is the final song and it’s not a bad song by
any means. The album should have ended with something more
substantial and heavier than Thiefsong. Though, that’s my only
complaint with an otherwise outstanding album that’s brilliantly
produced as well.
Horseburner
have delivered the goods with The Thief and I can see why Ripple
Music signed the band to their already impressive roster. Believe the
hype with these guys. They’re the real deal and this album proves
it time and time again.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Richard
at Sheltered Life PR
for the promo. The
Thief
will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music
from August
02nd
2019.
Links:
