Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: (Vinyl) Out Now/(CD)14/10/14
Label: Fair Warning Records/Translation Loss
“Lightworker” CD/CS/LP tracklisting:
1). Quickness (02:33)
2). Downbeat Situation (04:22)
3). More Lights More Trails (02:51)
4). Smoke and Mirror (04:51)
5). New Jam (04:02)
6). Vote Yes (To Say You Don't Want It) (06:16)
7). Need No Help (01:58)
8). Wheels I-II-III (05:07)
9). CHKN (04:05)
10). Ocean (03:10)
Bio:
From members of Floor and Dove hailing from Winter Haven
Florida striding forth with a whirlwind debut of ecstasy inducing sludge that
demands to be heard.
The Band:
Henry Wilson | Guitar, Vocals
John Ostberg | Drums
Review:
Furious guitar work and monster
drumming adorns this stunning debut from House of Lightning. Thundering out the
gate with the trippy tempo shifts in the opener “Quickness” it quickly sets the
tone that this album is going to be insane! And the rest of the album doesn't
let up at all! The bridge of the opener channels the best of 80s underground
metal and has some extremely impressive drumming throughout the changes.
“Downbeat Situation” careens through
breakneck vintage (Master of Puppets/Ride the Lightning era) Metallica rhythm
guitar with furious picking and nice open spaces. Sure is great to hear these
kind of riffs with a decent drummer behind them! “More Lights More Trails” has
some crazy drugged out phased doom guitar riff that almost has to be heard to
be believed. I think this is my favorite track on the record just fantastic song
writing.
Starting with what almost sounds like a
synth, “Vote Yes (To Say You Don't Want It)” quickly coalesces into a daiquiri
of delighted riffing with a total left turn chorus that is more of a mini-solo
with a sweet ascending riff. The longest track of the album, it boasts some of
the neater drumming with some pretty awesome tom rolls over the bridge. I can't
stress enough how talented John Ostberg's drumming is. Exceptional.
I love the obnoxious long bends ending
“CHKN” which reminds me of a riff Todd Rundgren did on one of Meatloaf's songs
that I can't quite recall the name of to make a motorcycle sound. The closer
“Ocean” is the song that sounds most like Floor to me with a slower tempo and
more “normal” songwriting then the other tracks. A nice chugging riff
throughout with some nice clean vocals one of my favorite tracks on the album
as well despite feeling like it ends a touch early.
Anytime you get the privilege of
hearing musicians this good it can't help but leaving a smile on your face. The
fact that guitarist Henry Wilson played drums and not guitar in Floor is
shocking to me given how fucking good he is on guitar throughout “Lightworker.”
The razor sharp fast changes and shifty song writing demand your attention
throughout “Lightworker” and this is a definite album of the year contender.
It's no surprise to me they (literally) just got signed by Translation Loss one
of my favorite labels who also has a nice slew of bands to check out if you're
not familiar with them. Buy it when it comes out and hopefully House of
Lightning starts some full US and Euro tours to bring the thunder (I waited to
the end for that one hah) near you.
Words By: Chris Tedor
For more information:
