Friday 4 September 2015

Red Mountains - 'Down With The Sun' (Album Review)

By: Victor Van Ommen

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 01/09/2015
Label: Nasoni Records



Gritty tones and sun swept grooves is what’s on offer here. There’s the trudge in “Sun,” whose vocal harmonies and crotch-thrusting guitar tone combine to set the scene for some dudely headbanging.

‘Down with the Sun’ DD//LP track listing:

1). Six Hands
2). Sun
3).Rodents
4). Sleepy Desert Blues
5). Silver Grey Sky
6). Moral Panic


Red Mountains is:

Simen Mathiassen | Drums
Sverre Dalen | Bass
Jostein Wigenstad | Guitar
Magnus Riise | Guitar, Vocals


The Review:

Just because something is new, doesn’t mean it’s new. Such is the case with Red Mountains debut LP, “Down with the Sun.” It’s the umpteenth album of the past couple years that plays out a low- desert stoner- rock vibe with interwoven grunge influences. Sound familiar? You bet, but if this fact is pushed to the periphery of what Red Mountains has going on, then there’s absolutely nothing wrong with this release. In 38 minutes, Red Mountains display full control, confidently taking their time to get through the six sturdy building blocks that make up “Down with the Sun.” 

Gritty tones and sun swept grooves is what’s on offer here. There’s the trudge in “Sun,” whose vocal harmonies and crotch-thrusting guitar tone combine to set the scene for some dudely headbanging. “Silver Grey Sky” is more of the same and “Rodents” is the band’s adrenaline resource in an otherwise mid-tempo outing. “Moral Panic” closes out the album with some back and forth drone riffing before careening into the sunset with a jam. Quality stuff, for sure, but when a song named “Sleepy Desert Blues” gives exactly that, it bodes the question if these guys actually want to set themselves apart from their peers. Then again, if their goal was to get out there and do nothing more than deliver a slab of tasty, smoked out grungy tunes without pushing the envelope too much, then more power to them! 

‘Down with the Sun’ is available here

FFO: Kyuss, Dead Meadow, Alice In Chains

Band info: Facebook| BandCamp