Monday, 18 November 2024

Mount Hush - II (Album Review)

Release Date: November 09th 2024. Record Label: Self Released.. Format: DD/Vinyl

II - Track Listing:

1.All I See 04:48

2.Golden Sun 05:24

3.The Hunt 03:59

4.Blues For The Dead 05:06

5.Grey Smoke 02:50

6.Celestial Eyes 07:12

7.54 03:25

8.Blood Red Sky 04:04


Members


AAL

EHA 

DALE CROVER

TREVOR DUNN

TOSHI KASAI


Review


Heavy Psych/Blues/Stoner Rockers Mount Hush new album “II” is a wild vortex of different sounds which focuses purely on Blues Rock EXCESS with an aggressive Punk Rock energy which drifts towards a heavier Space Rock sound. The band reside within a surreal world of Rock & Roll with the creative energy of 1960’s and 1970’s Psych Rock being heard within the more experimental style of Stoner Rock. The album can be quite dreamlike and progressive in places with lush sounding instruments which allows Mount Hush delve into the multi-layered Hard Rock passages that can be quite FOLK LIKE with how the vocals are delivered.


The opening batch of songs All I See, Golden Sun and The Hunt have a certain sense of haziness to them with Mount Hush creating distorted FUZZ grooves and classic hard rock passages which feels very much part of the RETRO ROCK movement whilst having a thrilling modern day appeal. This is perhaps down to Mount Hush using small amounts of modern day Post-Rock and Post-Stoner themes within the instrumental parts and even better sounding SONIC interplay appearing. The vocals are varied with a clear and clever style that is influenced by the 1960’s and 1970’s Hard Rock scene. 


Mount Hush can be quite aggressive with their free flowing style of music that even has outbursts of Doom Rock and Proto-Metal sensibilities on certain parts of the album. With multi-layered and dueling guitars being one of the standout parts of the record, Mount Hush seem to operate with a JAZZ based momentum on the heavier and freakier parts of the album. Songs such as The Hunt, Blues For The Dead,  Celestial Eyes and Blood Red Sky are the standout tracks on the album with Mount Hush becoming quite FREAKY and SEEDY in places but with their powerful Psychedelic Blues Rock swagger keeping everything real and grounded.


The Space Rock themes are quite impressive but they could have been more powerful if Mount Hush used a less restrictive style of Blues Rock though the record is packed with sublime grooves throughout that it makes you forget all about that aspect that does leave you wanting to hear more.


“II” is an outstanding slice of Heavy Psychedelic Blues Rock that should give the listener a warm feeling even with the upcoming cold winter season slowly drawing upon us. Mount Hush have easily avoided the dreaded sophomore slump with ‘II”. As this is first class entertainment from start to finish.


Words by Steve Howe


Links


Facebook | BandCamp