Release date: May 21st 2021. Label: Self Released Format: DD
Into The Hollow – Tracklisting
1.Mothman Takes Flight
2.Hollow Earth
3.Nomad
4.Indrid Cold
5.Infinite Ocean
6.The Simpsons = Real Footage
7.Agarthan Riders
8.Cloud Giant
9.Squonk
10.Roko's Basilisk
11.Hollow Sun
Members
Alex Parkinson - guitars, bass, vocals, vocoder, programming, mixing, mastering
Guest Thunderbirds:
Jason Roberts (of Breaths/CHNNLR) - Lead vocals on verses 3 & 4 of "Infinite Ocean"
Kirby - lead vocals on "The Simpsons = Real Footage"
Sam Parkinson - guitar solo on "Agarthan Riders"
Joe Sobieski - lead vocals on "Cloud Giant"
Review
Into The Hollow is the debut full length album from Mothman And The Thunderbirds (MATH) and it’s an album that’s very hard to describe. The best way I can describe this album is “Imagine if Devin Townsend decided to start a Sludge/Stoner Metal band”. Well that’s how to describe MATH and their wildly exiting and deeply creative new album.
The album consists of 11 tracks and sees MATH or Alex Parkinson who is behind this outrageously blend of Doom, Sludge, Stoner, Thrash and Heavy Metal. Alex is deeply influenced by Devin Townsend with a touch of Sludge/Stoner Metal heaviness on this album. The album does take a few listens to fully understand and become associated with the crazy turns the album takes from beginning to end.
The opening few songs – Mothman Takes Flight, Hollow Earth and Nomad – follows a Psychedelic Sludge/Stoner Rock narrative with the music being sandwiched between heavy slabs of Experimental Rock/Metal with the vocals being slightly different. The lyrics tell a story of crazy conspiracy theories. Do things make sense. Well not to me but it doesn’t stop me enjoying the wild ride of it all.
The music is always constantly evolving if Alex is aiming for an Experimental Narrative or just focusing on good old fashioned Sludge/Stoner Metal grooves. Not one song sounds the same and you’re always guessing where the album will go next or what punishing style of music Alex or MATH will throw your way.
Alex brings many more musical influences such as GOJIRA, Mastodon and Torche onto this album whilst retaining his own sense of creativity on the album. The music is very fast-paced which it has to be to justify the 11 tracks within the very short 30 minute running time. Even though there are no long “progressive” based songs that hasn’t stopped Alex adding many Progressive Rock/Metal themes on the record especially on songs such as: Nomad, Indrid Cold, Infinite Oceans and my favourite track – Agarthan Riders.
Alex and the “guest” members that’s he’s brought together for this album instrumental work is simply breathtaking in places and makes you appreciate the underground Sludge/Stoner Metal scene even more. Sure, some of the crazy ideas on the album don’t always come off as they should but they’re wrapped up in some beautifully addictive music that you can’t help but be swept by everything contained on the album.
Overall, Into The Hollow is a refreshing blend of Sludge/Stoner Metal that takes the right amount of creative risks to standout from the crowd and still leave you wanting more. I want to hear more from the crazed world of Mothman And The Thunderbirds and I believe the Sludge/Stoner Metal community will want to as well.
Words by Steve Howe
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