Mountaineer: Coma Fever / Siren Song

One of my favorite bands of the last few years, Secrets of the Sky, disbanded not long ago. The band released two impressive full-length albums and also put out a very interesting split with Godhunter. I was never shy about telling others about my affection for the band—and not just because the guys had an obvious love for H. P. Lovecraft. I mostly just admired something about the band's sound and energy, as if they'd discovered how to channel the mystery and the vibe of Pink Floyd while also creating some rather punishing heavy metal.

Don't worry, I'm getting to Mountaineer. I just need to mention Lament Cityscape for a few lines first. I reviewed that band's release The Torn not long ago and I liked what I heard. Both bands created some gripping and fascinating music that really caught my attention. I'm actually listening to The Torn as I write this and I just have to comment on the way these guys create music that is at once bold and bleak. Like the band's name, Lament Cityscape, this is music for the current state of things: broad, expansive, melancholy, and strange.

Mountaineer brings together two guitarists from the bands I've mentioned so far: Clayton Bartholomew (ex-Secrets of the Sky) and Mike McClatchey (Lament Cityscape). Joining them are Miguel Meza on vocals, Sean McCullough (Lament Cityscape) on Drums, and David Small (Cutworm) on bass. In March 2016, Mountaineer recorded an album that is due for release later this year. These two songs are a preview of that album and also serve as an introduction to the band. Mountaineer played a few shows in early August and a special edition 7" with these two songs is available for purchase at live shows and elsewhere. I'm not sure how the guys in Mountaineer will describe their music. These two tracks remind me of the mellower, atmospheric, qualities of Secrets of the Sky. I don't want to make easy comparisons (or contrasts) here. Mountaineer is a new project and deserves a careful listen. Still, the music here definitely suggests an interest in exploring similarly minimal, moody, and quiet spaces. Unlike Secrets of the Sky, Mountaineer does not seem invested in exploring occult themes. The music is heavy at the beginning of "Coma Fever," but it quickly turns slow tempoed and subdued. I was impressed with this first outing from Mountaineer and I'm curious to hear what the rest of the album sounds like.

I don't have album art for this one; enjoy the band photo.

Track Listing:
1. Coma Fever
2. Siren Song

Added: August 10th 2016
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
Hits: 1485
Language: english

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