Band To Check Out - Black Cloud Harbour

Introducing Black Cloud Harbour – a rock metal project injected with the raw power of punk and the atmospheric darkness of black metal. 

For fans of Kvelertak, Converge, Woods of Ypres, and Cave In, Black Cloud Harbour promises to elevate your musical expedition!

Dive into the intense fusion of powerful riffs, cathartic energy, and emotive melodies. Black Cloud Harbour is more than a music project; it's a sonic force set to provide a cathartic journey for your senses.

Craving an atmospheric musical experience that experiments with different genres?

Follow Black Cloud Harbour on Spotify now and stay tuned for an unparalleled blend of musical aggression and atmospheric intensity

More music coming soon (including the second single 'Storm' on 22nd November).

This is the new project from Adam C. Taylor (Vocals/Guitars) from UK Sludge Metallers EVEREST QUEEN. And this project is an absolute banger so you should all definitely check this out now.

Links

Linktree | BandCamp | Instagram | Spotify

Everest Queen - Murmurations (Album Review)

Date Released: September 30th 2022. Record Label: Trepanation Recordings. Formats: CD/DD/Cassette

Murmurations: Tracklisting

Sunken Thorn

Of Treachery And Shadows

Murmurations

Dormant River

Divergence

The Burial

Members

Adam C Taylor - Lead Vocals/Guitars

Tom Clements - Guitar, Synth, Vocals

Jimmy Long - Bass

Brad Cook - Drums, Vocals

Review

Murmurations is the new album from Doom/Sludge Metallers Everest Queen and sees the band drift further into the Post-Metal arena compared to their previous album. This album is darker and more daring with the band moving between the Psychedelic Moments of the Doom/Sludge Metal grooves that appear on this album. 

Everest Queen opens the album up with Sunken Thorn. A song that is pitch-black and sees the band have a more Blackened and Progressive approach with their music. Shades of THOU and NEUROSIS can be felt here with a slightly twisted outlook being heard within the lyrical content of the song. The music is quite forward thinking in places with a twinge of Stoner Metal appearing here and there. The vocals are quite forceful and Everest Queen have a more commanding presence to them especially when the Psychedelic sounds appear that sees the riffs become quite plentiful on the later stages of the song.

Second song Of Treachery And Shadows is a more direct affair with a fantastic instrumental sound being played for the first few moments of the song. With the band adding perhaps a more mainstream metal sound that ventures between Post-Rock and Post-Metal with a cool Progressive sound giving way to the brutal harsh vocals when they appear. The song becomes ever more gloomy with the flashy guitars and frantic drumming. I easily understood the harsh growls which was an added bonus. There is a slight Hardcore flow to this song before some epic Progressive and Thrash based guitars show a more aggressive change of pace from the band. 

Third song Murmurations is a different change of pace with ambient sounds and textures merging with a semi-acoustic atmosphere. More Post-Rock compared to the aggressive sounds of the opening two tracks but showing another cool creative side to Everest Queen. There are shades of Nirvana on this track for myself especially with the subtle and powerful drumming and guitar tones.

Fourth song Dormant River feels like two different sounds with the first part being a surreal Psych Rock and Post Rock track with Ambient and Dreamy surreal sounds. The second half sees Everest Queen return to their aggressive and violent sound that flirts between Post-Metal and Blackened Sludge Metal energy. The vocals are demanding but fair with Everest Queen playing to their full creative potential on this track. This is my favourite track on the album as it shows you many different sides to Everest Queen that you wouldn't expect. 

The final two songs of Divergence and The Burial mix and match the different styles of Post-Rock, Psych Rock and Blackened Sludge Metal that evokes memories of YOB and ISIS (The Band) especially on Divergence. Both songs combine for an exciting finish for Everest Queen to impress listeners with their vast musical skills and songwriting ability.

Murmurations is an exciting chapter for Everest Queen to make themselves known with. Some fans may not like the bleak direction the band have taken with this release but this is a first rate album that's boosted by first rate production values.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Chris at Frenchie PR Trail for the promo.

Murmurations will be available to buy on CD/DD/Cassette via Trepanation Recordings from September 30th 2022.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Everest Queen - Dead Eden (Album Review)

Release date: April 18th 2019. Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD

Dead Eden – Tracklisting

1.Into The Bleeding Hollows

2.Blood That Binds The Iliad

3.Crooked Husk

4.Neptune's Gates 06:05

5.Vessel of The Flesh

6.That Which Only Fire Can Cleanse

7.Grave Dweller

8.Dead Eden

Members

Adam C Taylor - Lead Vocals, Guitars

Jimmy Long - Bass, Backing Vocals

Brad Cook - Drums, Clean Vocals

Review

Dead Eden is the debut album from UK Progressive Sludge Metallers – Everest Queen-. The band play a dark and melodic style of Doom/Sludge Metal with a haunting Psychedelic edge. I’ve seen these guys compared to Baroness and Mastodon most recently. Truth be told they have the earlier and much missed heavier sounds of both bands but that’s where the comparisons end. As Everest Queen add strands Psych Metal and Post-Metal to their music.

The album is always constantly engaging and changing musical styles for the majority of the songs held on the album.

Opening song – Into The Bleeding Hollows – is a mellow Post-Rock/Post-Metal song that starts the album slowly and quite beautifully in places. A hint of aggressive and melodic Sludge/Doom Metal riffs suddenly appear and this is the sound the band will build upon for the rest of the album.

Second song – Blood That Binds The Iliad – is the first true picture on what to expect on Dead Eden. As the band focus on playing a bleak Sludge/Doom Metal sound with elements of Psych Metal and Progressive Metal giving the song a haunting and almost contemporary feel. The vocals are harsh and very direct allowing Everest Queen to almost venture into the more extreme side of heavy metal. So expect a few moments of sheer brutality coming out of nowhere on other parts of the song before settling into a quieter and confident rhythm.

Third song – Crooked Husk – is a thunderous style of Doom/Sludge Metal that sees Everest Queen start to embrace the more Psychedelic part of their music and it makes for a superb ride especially when the complex and progressive riffs appear. This is one of the standout songs on the album.

Everest Queen continue playing their own distinctive and original style of Progressive Sludge Metal on songs such as Neptune’s Gate, Vessel Of The Fresh and Dead Eden. Neptune’s Gate and Dead Eden are the other standout songs on the album where Everest Queen impress the most. The style and delivery of music changes with almost every song held on the album and proves that Everest Queen are a highly talented group of musicians. All of their songs have a clear narrative and never become bogged down by the many different styles of music the band have included on the album.

Overall, Dead Eden is an exciting album and proves why Everest Queen have the potential to make a real name for themselves within the Doom/Sludge Metal scene in the near future.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Frenchie PR for the promo. Dead Eden will be available to buy on CD/DD from April 18^th 2019.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp