The Earls Of Mars is a Progressive Metal Band from the UK
The members are:
Harry
Armstrong – Voices and Pianos
Dan
Hardingham – Guitars and Other Lesser Known Instruments
Si
McCarthy – Upright Basses and Akkordions
Dave
Newman – Drums and Percussion
Just throwing it out there, but
the Earls of Mars have some fantastic hair. And moustaches that
match their truly bizarre Steampunk metal sound. Following on from
their 3-track EP ‘The Skies Are Falling’ (released in October
last year), the Earls’ self-titles debut full length album is a
delightfully odd, macabre and ultimately unique experience. Let’s
delve into the fog-filled depths.
We open with the rocking and
rolling ‘Poor Whore’s Petition’, a track so full of bounce it
threatens to make my speakers jump off the table. The guitar fairly
jumps out at you like a tiger from the undergrowth, and Harry
Armstrong’s crazy preacher vocals is a perfect counterpoint to the
music. If H.G. Wells had ever wanted to make a rock band, you’d
better believe he’d be in this one.
This rollicking tune is
followed up by ‘The Swinger’, a jazzy little metal number with
plenty of organ music and swagger. The overall feel of this song
reminds me of odd-metallers Hot Head Show’s strange diatribes, but
with much brasher breakdowns. Then we have ‘The Astronomer Pig’,
a six-minute long exploration of oddness and pig noises. Harry’s
voice channels Tom Waits and Jack Black here, mixing the two in some
diabolical alchemy and spouting forth this growling, howling monster.
When the heaviness kicks in and the drums of Dave Newman pummel
forth, ‘The Astronomer Pig’ turns into a remarkable metal oddity.
‘Cornelius Itchybah’ is a
weird fellow: from his piano-tapping beginning to his tolling metal
finale, he is a track of sadness and anger. When his quiet
melancholy breaks into distorted guitar rage, you’d better find
yourself a chair and whip and fend off his wild attacks quickly. If
you don’t, I dread to think what’ll happen to you… as the
madness takes over ‘Cornelius Itchybah’, the pianos become
discordant, the bass slaps its way into the fray and the guitar wails
the agony of Cornelius.
If ‘Cornelius Itchybah’ was
a depressed poet, the next track ‘Otto the Magnificent’ is a
faded film-noir detective with a drink problem and more one-liners
than an Arnold Schwarzenegger film marathon. Si McCarthy’s
world-weary bass takes you for a smoke-filled tour of dark alleys and
seedy bars, before leaving you alone and looking out at a moonless
sky.
The rock comes back with a
vengeance with ‘The Ballad of Ben Ayre’: it’s a slamming, spiky
slab of operatic metal, with a backbone of England’s finest
Victorian spirit. It’s a short but sweet tune, leaving nothing to
waste and everything to flaunt. Then the longest song on the album
comes in with a puff of cigarette smoke and cheap liquor. ‘The
Last Glass Eye-Maker’ is a bitter and twisted soul, skulking in a
corner and judging the world through his beady eyes. He points his
finger at the tracks that have been before him, judging them unworthy
of his majestic company; his pianos and drums beats contempt at all
and sundry. As the song progresses, the Glass Eye-Maker flips over
his table with a scream of guitars, then leaves in a fit of guitar
solos and bass stomps. I wonder what all that was about?
‘Some Place’ is a
European-sounding mystery tune, with lashing of accordions and a dash
of German soundbites and other odd effects. The song leaves you in a
state of disarray, its persistent switching of sounds and snippets of
dialogue serving to totally disorientate you. Then you are greeted
with ‘The Mirrored Staircase’, our final foray into the world of
the Earls. And it’s a belter: dark, creepy yet still inspiring and
musically magnificent, the journey up this Staircase is one you must
surely take.
The Earls of Mars are a truly odd
bunch: part jazz, part Steampunk, part metal; they really are a
marvel to behold. They are fine purveyors of odd metal masterpieces,
and I suggest you don your best top hat and monocle and get listening
right away. Jolly good show!
Written by Chris "I am not a martian" Markwell
Thanks to Darren at Candlelight Records for sending us this crazy excellent album to review. The Earls Of Mars S/T album will be out to buy from October 28th 2013 from all good stockists via Candlelight Records.
Check The Band From Links Below
Official
BandCamp
