NASDAQ / MOTHERTRUCKER split 12” (DAQTRUCK) review

NASDAQ / MOTHERTRUCKER split 12” (DAQTRUCK) review

Well how's this for a monumental line-up for a split record? Manchester-based NASDAQ's EP 'AGM / Fourth Quarter Slump' blew me (and pretty much anyone else that listened to it) away when it got released a few years back, and Stourbridge-based MOTHERTRUCKER have been consistently putting out colossal stuff for as long as I can remember. So NASDAQ only have one track on here but it's about fifteen minutes worth of instrumental magic that drifts in and out of huge riffs, sweeping highs, technical funky beats, and ambient interludes. They're very very good at building momentum, playing a similar rhythm for a good few minutes at a time, but working in subtle intricacies on each instrument, giving you plenty of time to get into the groove of each section before it falls away into new territory. Nestled in amongst the longer parts of this tune, there's an absolutely killer riff at about 8:50 in, which is made all the more special for its short length, and is worth replaying the whole song back for. I'm always amazed at the dynamism and contrast in highs and lows that they manage to create with just one guitar. Awesome stuff. MOTHERTRUCKER are another great band for dynamics, but focussing a little more on the heavier side of things, with the kind of cathartic riffs that only a band that has been going for over ten years can forge. Both of their songs on this half of the split are dark, sludgey, post-metal affairs, that contrast the heavy textures of metallic riffing with delayed, stoner leads, which break into atmospheric, spacey interludes, before caving back into some more monumental riffs and sweeping melodies; a contrast that's emphasised by some careful and effective song structuring, and some really killer drumming that's all at once solid and pounding, and tight and technical. An atmospheric yet crushing listen. Definitely a split to pick up for fans of amazing prog / stoner / post-metal heaviness.

This split is coming out next year I believe, so the best way to keep up to date with its release would be to follow the guys on the ol' Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Mothertrucker-58539296248/

https://www.facebook.com/NASDAQ-THE-FTSE-100-372464866776/

xox

SVALBARD - 'One Day All This Will End' cassette review

SVALBARD - 'One Day All This Will End' cassette review

Oh man, SVALBARD are good; another band I feel hugely lucky to have shared the stage (well, floor) with, they play an astounding and melodically unique style of post-hardcore that is all at once heavy and melodic, epic and emotional, and on here, from what I recall, I bit faster than their previous releases, utilising a bit more double time and blasting, giving it a bit more of a hardcore punk / black metal vibe. Fans of anything from LIGHT THIS CITY, to CIRCLE TAKES THE SQUARE, to old DARKEST HOUR should absolutely love this. The male / female dual vocal works as brilliantly as ever, the two different tones interspersing considerately and intelligently, and occasionally joining to epic effect; the beautiful single string lead guitar melodies pierce the shroud of thick bass and heavy guitars perfectly; and the aforementioned drumming is really something to behold, tearing technically through these eight stylistically varied and well structured tunes (as well as a cool cover of VICTIMS' 'This is the End'). A solid album, well worth a look if you like your stuff dark, heavy, fast and melodic. Also available on record I believe, but the cassette (with chrome shell) is a beaut.

https://svalbard.bandcamp.com/

xox

TALONS - 'New Topographics' review

TALONS - 'New Topographics' review

"My old band SPERARE were fortunate enough to play with TALONS a fair few years back, and I do recall being blown away by their dual-violin accompanied instrumental post-rock. What we have here is a little more ambient and soundscape driven than what I remember of their last album, 'Hollow Realm', with a few songs dedicated solely to textures of the hum of ringing guitars, and violin melodies, creating epic, sweeping soundscapes. There are still plenty of colossal riffs here though, coupled with epic guitar melodies, with songs like 'Lunar Gloss' and 'The Wild Places' showing their ability to contrast both to beautiful effect, as well as some awesome, fuzzy distorted bass, and pounding drum work that is at times fast and technical, while at others sounding brilliantly mechanical, shining especially in the sublime 'The Dreams Have No Dream', which features not only the most intense and noisy section of the album at the end, which massively took me by surprise, but also a couple of my favourite melodies on here. A brilliant, and at times haunting, experimental piece of work by a band that have the layering of sounds and textures down to a tee, from every piece of feedback and percussionary click, to every underlying melody. Mesmerising."

https://www.facebook.com/gotalons/

xox