Album Type:
Album
Date Released:
01st
August 2014
Label:
vinyl by Belief Mower Records and on cassette by Breathe Plastic.
The Human Cry
- track listing:
1.Surround the Fire
04:40
2.Tongues 04:14
3.Childhood 03:12
4.Scissors 04:08
5.The Brave 03:54
6.Madness 04:39
7.Help Me 04:01
8.I'm Old 05:47
9.Spirits 04:26
Bio
Muscle and Marrow
formed in 2013 is Kira Clark (guitar, voice) and Keith McGraw (drums,
samples). Their sound is surprisingly full, with either lush and
drone like guitars or drastically fuzzed, as well as heavy drums. The
songs, however, are powered by Clark's voice, soaringly operatic and
high at times, while shaking and guttural at others.
They are interested
in the morose, the ugly, the jarring and the soft. They rely heavily
on changing dynamics and avoid the linear, instead gravitating
towards the clashing of sounds, their voice and drumming almost
hypnotic at times, followed by sudden bursts of distorted noise and
thrashing drums. They draw inspiration from literature, film,
contemporary poetry, darkness with redemption and darkness without
it, but their songs are at their core, deeply personal. Comparisons
can be found in Chelsea Wolfe, Swans, Shannon Wright
Members
Guitar, vocals: Kira
Clark
Drums, samples:
Keith McGraw
Review:
I
don't know what they are brewing in Portland, Oregon as they have
provided ourselves with a ton of amazing bands to check out over the
years. Though I have to say Muscle and Marrow may be the most
emotionally devastating and slightly depressing band to come from
that great town.
Muscle
and Marrow's music is very hard to define. Parts Doom, Sludge, Drone,
Ambient and Post Rock. Then we have Kira's sultry slightly crazy
operatic voice. Damn she can freaking sing. You can hear the
emotional pain and anger in her powerful vocals. When Kira channels
her operatic diva persona then there won't be a dry eye in the house
as she lays on some heavy intense passionate vocals.
Imagine
Muscle and Marrow as the darker and twisted version of Portishead
fronted by Chelsea Wolfe. They are probably sick of the back teeth of
that description but it's do damn true. It's a good job that Muscle
and Marrow have a very original gothic based sound to call upon. The
album is one mean and moody experience that soon gets under your
skin. Tracks such as Surround The Fire, Tongues and Childhood
perfectly set the scene for an icy cold and pitch black vibe where
the guitars are drenched in demonic FUZZ.
The
lyrics have a dark delicious addictive quality to them as it feels
they thrive on the pain and suffering currently going in the world. I
shouldn't forget about Keith's fantastic and intelligent drumming
which adds a real soulful groove to the overall sound of the album.
Keith can be calm and tender one moment and then pure unwanted fury
the next moment when the time calls for it. The album maybe one of
sombre and reflection but there are shades of hope towards the end of
the album. The Human Cry is an emotionally complex experience which
offers no easy answers. It's a dark brooding ride into the very heart
of your own sub-conscience. You may not like what you hear or see but
you can't deny how utterly captivating and powerful it is.
Thanks
to Kira for sending us a promo to review. The Human Cry is available
to buy on DD/Vinyl/Tape from BandCamp Now.
