Thursday 3 April 2014

Matterhorn - Vol. 2. …And It Will Resolve Itself Without Him (Album Review)


Album Type : Full Length
Date Released : 11/2/2014
Label : Thinker Thought Records

Vol. 2. …And It Will Resolve Itself without Him, album track listing :

1). Stage Six : The Engines of Creation 10:28
2). Stage Seven : Exponent 02:59
3). Stage Eight : The Program Errors 02:57
4). Stage Nine : Ecophagy 05:08
5). Stage Ten : Heartbeat of a Mechanical World 03:38
6). Stage Eleven : 6.61 x 10^25 Kg 09:15

Bio :

The wilds of Colorado brought forth the three men of Matterhorn. Daniel Harvey, Jeremy Grobsmith and Aaron Retka have played together for a decade, first in the tech-violence quartet The Great Redneck Hope, whose two full-lengths remain required listening for the genre. Now, as Matterhorn, they've condensed into a thundering instrumental three-piece, relying on low-grade musical telepathy and a collective half-century of musical experience.  Matterhorn's sophomore effort Vol. 2. ...And It Will Resolve Itself Without Him. picks up where their debut release, Vol. 1. The world began without man... left off, providing a bleak and scientifically plausible series of events that rinse life from the Earth. Over the course of the albums, Matterhorn provides an auditory tour of the end of man, alternately blistering and mild, bombastic and stark. This, along with their explosive live show, should do well in helping secure their legacy.

Similar artists: Converge, Baroness, Mastodon, Isis, Pelican, Russian Circles, High On Fire

The Band :

Daniel Harvey
Jeremy Grobsmith
Aaron Retka

Review:

Hailing from Colorado Springs, Matterhorn has followed up their 2010 album, Vol. 1. The World Began Without Man… with Vol. 2. entitled …And It Will Resolve Itself Without Him.

Clocking in at just less than 35 minutes, Vol. 2 picks up where Vol. 1 left off. Opening with bleak swirling winds and a sinister, lonesome guitar, Stage Six: The Engines of Creation, is a ten minute plus opus that for the first three minutes feels like it is stuck; the guitar pulses and build before an almighty crash of drums and riffs breaks the hypnotic opening. From then on in the next section of the track, it is loud. Very loud! Slight respite in the middle is again obliterated with towering guitars, pounding bass and crashing cymbals. As the opener draws to a close it enters more progressive territory before the bass leads a melancholy outro.

Stage Seven: Exponent again does what its predecessor did; the hypnotic undertones destroyed by a sharp crash before a far more urgent riff builds up the pace for a complete and utter change in tempo. A fast and furious opening makes way for a dense guitar riff halfway through the track. The guitars settle into a monotone chug towards the end before Stage Eight opens with rolling drums and another monotonous, down tuned riff. This record definitely grabs your attention by keeping you on your toes. It is unpredictable and wild. 

Stage Nine has a hint of Napalm Death about it in the opening strains. The guitars certainly have that ‘grind’ feel before they settle into an archetypal stoner rock groove. The end of the track is signalled with the drums seemingly dipping deeper and deeper; ultimately towards the next stage.

Stage Ten shows another change in pace and timbre with piano and acoustic guitars giving a break from the crushing electric guitars. The cacophony begins again with another anxious riff for the final stage; another near ten minute epic track plays out with plenty of dense guitars and a feedback drenched ending.

When an instrumental album comes along, you have to have the ability to hold sway over your listener. Matterhorn certainly does this. The length is just right and the variety of sounds and moods that are created throughout never fail to grab your attention.

Words by  : Dominic Walsh

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