Sunday 15 November 2015

Holy Mount - "We Fell From The Sky" Deluxe (Album Review)

By: Peter Man

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 07/09/2015
Label: White Dwarf



Holy Mount's guitars reverberate effortlessly across each song.  Sparkling solos often feature heavy wah usage to accompany the fuzz, phaser, and echo effects of the melody.  Everything is backed up by the rock solid percussions of Troy Legree, who beats through a snare heavy, 70's styled kit, and the sneaky lines of bass man Brandon McKenzie.  'We Fell From The Sky', the deluxe version, is a deep look into how the band set its roots; it is an album that can robustly stand on its own and will undoubtedly get heavy play in this author's rotation going forward.


‘We Fell From the Sky’ Deluxe DD//LP track listing:

1). Throughout these Eyes
2). We Fell From The Sky
3). Garm of Hounds
4). Born of Eclipse
5). Meadowvale
6). Breeze Blows West
7). The Rain The Might

The Review:

This week I was lucky enough to listen to an album from Holy Mount, the psychedelic/stoner rock band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  They recently released a deluxe version of 2011's 'We Fell From The Sky' that includes the two songs off the 7" record 'Breeze Blows West'.  As these seven tracks unfold, you really experience what Holy Mount does best: create dreamy soundscapes that echo an enthusiastic high into your eardrums.

Holy Mount's guitars reverberate effortlessly across each song.  Sparkling solos often feature heavy wah usage to accompany the fuzz, phaser, and echo effects of the melody.  Front man Danijel Losic lays down vocals as though in a trance, imploring the listener to flow with the band.  Everything is backed up by the rock solid percussions of Troy Legree, who beats through a snare heavy, 70's styled kit, and the sneaky lines of bass man Brandon McKenzie.

The second track 'We Fell From The Sky', which bears the same title as the album, is the best of the bunch.  It begins with a hazy riff and settles into a smooth rock beat right away.  Two bold guitar solos fuel the fire right up to the 4:15 mark, at which point the band lights up this fat track with an aggressive tone to finish it off.  The ending is led by a driving beat and also a similarly intrepid lead guitar that is the band's calling card.  The other four songs included in the original album follow a similar pattern of ascension that produces a nice consistency to the compilation.  

Track four 'Born Of Eclipse' is another choice cut where the band mellows out a bit from the other songs.  There are classic rock riffs and some guitar solos sprinkled in, but the overall slower rhythm leaves you with a very pleasant feeling at the end.  'Breeze Blows West' introduces the bonus material and right away you sense its raw direction.  This is a high energy track that features a super trippy guitar solo and reverse drum beat.  'The Rain The Might' is the last track and highlights the vintage drum kit towards the start, then breaks down in the middle to let the bass get some spotlight as well.

Subsequent recordings, such as the full length album 'VOL' from 2014, see the band get a bit risky with their music, which includes incorporating synthesizers and tambourines.  They have managed to add depth and sophistication with these new musical experiments without sacrificing their core energy.  However, what you get with 'We Fell From The Sky', the deluxe version, is a deep look into how the band set its roots; it is an album that can robustly stand on its own and will undoubtedly get heavy play in this author's rotation going forward.


‘We Fell From The Sky’ Deluxe is available here



Band info: bandcamp | facebook