Chicago band Huntsmen refer to themselves as storytellers not a band, they cite influences such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Waylon Jennings as they delve into the darker realms of Americana, fighting with the paradox of American nationalism and pride on their previous album American Scrap a concept piece that put them on the map. On Mandala Of Fear they have created another concept piece, telling the tale of "a soldier on her first combat mission gone wrong, as she encounters wartime horrors and traverses obstacles - both physical and emotional" Huntsman continue their tradition of storytelling then with this album creating brilliant imagery with the descriptive lyrics married to all encompassing doom/post metal that has so many different sounds and styles that over the course of 85 minutes of music you don't know where it's going to next.
One minute you're on top of a wave of noise from thundering Mastodon-alike metal, the next like on Colossus you have a darker, throbbing heart where they almost pair classic metal gallops with industrial electronics. I agonised over this review due to the nature of this album dubbed Americana-metal but Mandala Of Fear can be summed up like so Neil Young and Emmylou Harris, jamming Pink Floyd with Baroness and Anathema. The entwined voices of Chris Kang and Aimee Bueno (who now is full time band member after her guest slot on American Scrap) crossing several (mountain) ranges with other band members also lending their throats to the mic. Kang also drives the mammoth amount of sheer cliff face riffage on this album along with Marc Stranger-Najjar (bass) and Kirill Orlov (guitars) rounding out the string trio who lock in so tightly for numbers such as the elemental sounding Atomic Storms while on God Will Stop Trying, Ray Knipe's drumming gives space, drama and direction as the vocals are haunting and filled with passion. Conversely on Pirates Of The Waste Ray and Marc create an other-worldly feel as this sci-fi epic ramps up the progressive nature.
At 13 tracks Mandala Of Fear is weighty, you may need a few listens if you can spare the time, it is a rewarding listen, as the psychedelia of Hill People Drugs morphs into the dark post metal of Bone Cathedral and A Nameless Dead brings more aggression, hardcore cutting through, as Loss brings some jazz touches. I could go on and on but ultimately you have to listen to this record to really appreciate it. One of the most intriguing releases of 2020 so far Mandala Of Fear ticks so many boxes. 9/10
Puta Volcano: Amma (The Orchard)
At 13 tracks Mandala Of Fear is weighty, you may need a few listens if you can spare the time, it is a rewarding listen, as the psychedelia of Hill People Drugs morphs into the dark post metal of Bone Cathedral and A Nameless Dead brings more aggression, hardcore cutting through, as Loss brings some jazz touches. I could go on and on but ultimately you have to listen to this record to really appreciate it. One of the most intriguing releases of 2020 so far Mandala Of Fear ticks so many boxes. 9/10
Puta Volcano: Amma (The Orchard)
Despite their uncompromising, if a little strange band name Puta Volcano hail from Athens Greece not any Spanish speaking country. However uncompromising is what I would call Amma the bands second outing. With lashings of grungy riffs, some mean ass vocals and a heady fuzz retained throughout you can hear why Puta Volcano have been winning fans inch by inch, gig by gig in a career that has seen them sharing stages with bands such as The Black Keys and 1000mods along with Alice In Chains and Fu Manchu as well as being booked for this years Desertfest Berlin. They will surely go down a storm with the grunge/stoner, riff worship of numbers like Entropica showing the bands knack of driving home emotion while waves of melody wash over on Venus Lullaby the rhythm section of Steven Stefanidis (drums) Bookies (bass) hooking you in with huge furrow-like grooves allowing Alex Pi to brings some sonic experimentation with his six string that fuzzes, soars and buzzes as Anna Papathanasiou's astounding often crooning, sometimes bellowed vocals grabs the listener the ear. As one Mrs H would put it this record has large amount of heft to it, able to shake your ass as well as nod your head from the choppy First Light, to the slithering Black Box, the driving Sugar Cube as small interludes break the album up keeping your attention focussed on what's to come. Amma is a great record a mixture of Skunk Anansie and Alice In Chains, with a big attitude and bigger grooves, the heft is strong here. 8/10
Khymera: Master Of Illusions (Frontiers Records)
Originally featuring Kansas vocalist Steve Walsh, Khymera is now fronted by bassist/vocalist/producer Dennis Ward who many will know from Pink Cream 69, Unisonic and more recently Magnum. Master Of Illusion is the band's latest album their first in four years, after a short hiatus, once again displaying a high level of melodic hard rock. Now many will know how good Ward's vocals are from his time with Gus G and here he maintains his sonorous voice, matching it with his slick songwriting and production techniques that highlight his virtuoso band mates well. The four-piece work together in ideal unison creating slick melodic rock that often moves into the sickly sweet. It's well produced, well played keyboard drenched melodic rock from a veteran of the scene, no boundaries broken, no major deviations but enough for fans. 6/10
Bone Church: Acid Communion (Ripple Music)
Filthy...the main words to describe Acid Communion as these New Haven natives bring the proto-metal sound of Blue Cheer, Atomic Rooster and Wales' own Budgie, blending the spirit of the blues with fuzzy psych they have captured that late 60's sound that came out of the death throes of the summer of love. Being from New England the power of the church looms large over everything (think Salem Witch Trials), it's a record that has at it's black heart the a town besieged by a Satanic cult. So yes the Great Beast plays a big part on Bone Church Blues which merges walking blues with thundering doom especially at the end of the track. With a rumbling down-tuned rhythm section driving every song, the distorted dual guitar freak outs (Iron Temple) and shamanic vocals especially on the Clutch-alike If They Float. Acid Communion is a heavyweight stoner metal record with tradition coursing through its veins; filthy, fiery and full on from moment one, play loud! 7/10
Khymera: Master Of Illusions (Frontiers Records)
Originally featuring Kansas vocalist Steve Walsh, Khymera is now fronted by bassist/vocalist/producer Dennis Ward who many will know from Pink Cream 69, Unisonic and more recently Magnum. Master Of Illusion is the band's latest album their first in four years, after a short hiatus, once again displaying a high level of melodic hard rock. Now many will know how good Ward's vocals are from his time with Gus G and here he maintains his sonorous voice, matching it with his slick songwriting and production techniques that highlight his virtuoso band mates well. The four-piece work together in ideal unison creating slick melodic rock that often moves into the sickly sweet. It's well produced, well played keyboard drenched melodic rock from a veteran of the scene, no boundaries broken, no major deviations but enough for fans. 6/10
Bone Church: Acid Communion (Ripple Music)
Filthy...the main words to describe Acid Communion as these New Haven natives bring the proto-metal sound of Blue Cheer, Atomic Rooster and Wales' own Budgie, blending the spirit of the blues with fuzzy psych they have captured that late 60's sound that came out of the death throes of the summer of love. Being from New England the power of the church looms large over everything (think Salem Witch Trials), it's a record that has at it's black heart the a town besieged by a Satanic cult. So yes the Great Beast plays a big part on Bone Church Blues which merges walking blues with thundering doom especially at the end of the track. With a rumbling down-tuned rhythm section driving every song, the distorted dual guitar freak outs (Iron Temple) and shamanic vocals especially on the Clutch-alike If They Float. Acid Communion is a heavyweight stoner metal record with tradition coursing through its veins; filthy, fiery and full on from moment one, play loud! 7/10
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