Release Date: June 22nd 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Chapter III - Tracklist
1.War Cries on Horseback 04:22
2.Sundowner 04:09
3.Creature 06:00
4.Sonney Daze 04:21
5.Arise 04:13
6.Cryptid Canyon 04:41
7.Blood in the Water 04:50
8.Minerva 07:17
9.Nephilim 03:45
Members
Jane: Lead Vocals
Michael: Guitar
Arson: Bass
Donovan: Drums
Review
Chapter III is the debut album from Grunge/Psych/Stoner Rockers Trails Of The Mare who bring a gritty Mountain Rock and Blues Rock sound to this record. The record has been recorded and engineered by the legendary Scott Reeder which gives Trails Of The Mare real credibility for the underground scene to fully check them out. The album itself is a great mix of different styles with the band focusing upon the main areas of Grunge, Psych and Stoner Rock sounds..
There’s a fuzzy sound made up by a fast-paced Mountain Rock sound that does split off into areas of Classic Hard Rock and Doom along the way. The soaring vocals from Jane are delivered superbly well with a Grunge influence being the main thing I can hear from Jane’s excellent vocal range that appears throughout the album. Imagine if Stevie Nicks or Beth Gibbons were fronting a Heavy Psych and Stoner Rock band then this is the closest you'll ever experience. Though, Jane's soulful Blues Rock tones do provide a few chilling and emotionally charged moments along the way.
The songs themselves are inspired by the likes of KYUSS, Jane’s Addiction, Soundgarden and Alice In Chains being the most dominant but you’ll experience a wide range of different musical sounds on the album, with Trails Of The Mare adding a cool swirling mix of Heavy Psych and Fuzz Rock.
Chapter III does have a songbook structure for how Trails Of The Mare deliver their emotionally charged lyrics set against a backdrop of grounded Nineties melodies. The record can be cautiously slow at times but for the most part Trails Of The Mare embrace a vivid and fast-paced energy that moves their music into more emotionally charged areas of Heavy Rock you least expect.
The “Mountain Rock” sound is laid on pretty thick which gives Chapter III a grounded and superbly organic feel with the production values never being too overproduced or overly dramatic. Some of the songs can be too long at times but it’s a good job that Trails Of The Mare have a ton of epic cinematic sounds, grooves and instrumental jams to impress listeners with.
Standout tracks on the album include: War Cries On Horseback, Creature, Sonney Daze, Cryptid Canyon and Minerva. These tracks are the ones that grabbed my interest the most with soothing vocals, soaring riffs and psychedelic poetry emerging from almost every corner. The vocals from Jane always continue to impress with the different vocal methods that are applied on the record. Credit must also goto Michael (Guitar), Arson (Bass) and Donavan (Drums) for bringing some massive Stoner Rock musical energy on this record where they never over do things such as bringing Prog Rock/Metal sensibilities onto the album.
Chapter III may not be the most modern sounding of records but when the band are playing music influenced by one of the most important eras of the Grunge and Stoner Rock scene whilst also creating their own great style of music to impress listeners with then PLEASE ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTE. As TRAILS OF THE MARE are the real deal. They have the songs and talent to make a real impression within the Heavy Psych, Grunge and Stoner Rock underground scenes.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
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