Pinewalker: Migration

Despite the large numbers of extreme metal bands out there, a surprising number of them use music to address grief. Pinewalker is no exception. The band introduces Migration as follows: “The album . . . became a somewhat loose concept album as a form of catharsis for all of us. Having had to forcibly adapt to painful realities and losing loved ones to cancer, we poured every ounce of hurt, sorrow, mourning, remembrance, joy, and clarity into this one record as we could. We play from the soul and aren’t afraid to try new things in our music, and we plan to take this as far as we possibly can.�

That’s a nice statement, one that certainly gives listeners a sense of what to expect here. The band’s music, probably best described as sludge, is heavy and trippy and cool. At times, it gives listeners the full power of the riff while at other times it holds every back, choosing instead to weave in a series of arpeggiated chords to amplify the mood. Given that some of those chords introduce a song called “Maelstrom� suggests that this band wants to catch us unawares. The full weight of the maelstrom eventually hits but once it does, it’s too late�"we’re stuck.

This album is full of surprises, little twists and turns that separate this band from others. I was especially fond of the guitar harmonies in “Bone Collector.� They came out of nowhere but sounded great. I also really enjoyed the solo passages in “Space Witch,� a very mellow song that lets the guitars break free from the sludge and show off a little more soul than usual.

Aside from the songs I’ve already mentioned, interested listeners should also check out “Self Vs. Self,� a chuggy treat that also shows off the band’s various vocal talents (all three guitarists take turns singing at various points on the album). I’d also recommend “Sentinel,� the lulling opener that takes it’s time but is worth the whole six minutes.

This band has only been making music for about five years, but they are clearly honing their craft impressively. If you like sludge and doom and, yes, even some wild twists and turns, this is definitely an album worth your time.

Track Listing:
1. Sentinel
2. Bone Collector
3. Burning Earth
4. Maelstrom
5. Space Witch
6. Self Vs. Self
7. The Thaw

Added: August 29th 2019
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Twitter Feed
Hits: 1002
Language: english

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