Wednesday 13 May 2015

Kylver - The Mountain Ghost (Album Review)

The Mountain Ghost cover art


Album Type: Album
Date Released: 21st May 2015
Label: Self Released

'The Mountain Ghost' track Listing:

1.The Mountain Has Ghosts
2.The Feast of the Mountain Ghost
3.The Dance of the Mountain Ghost
4.The Death of the Mountain Ghost 

Kylver is:

James Bowmaker (Bass)
Barry Mitcheson (Drums)
Neil Elliott (Hammond Organ, Keys)
Jonny Scott (Guitar).

Bio:

KYLVER (Pronounced: Kil-ver) is a four piece progressive heavy rock/metal band coming out of Newcastle upon Tyne. The band is made up of a bunch of mates that have a genuine love for music with a want to create something that is both interesting and challenging to play.

Review:

Kylver is a band from my home town of Newcastle Upon Tyne who I've been keeping a close eye on. Friends of mine have told me that these guys are something else on the live stage. I haven't seen these guys in action yet but that's all going to change with their superb new album - The Mountain Ghost. A sprawling 40 minute odyssey that sees Kylver playing an experimental kind of Progressive Rock/Post-Metal style hybrid.

What makes this such a fantastic debut album is Kylver's fearless approach to music. These guys show no fear as they blend different styles of music that will impress the heck out of you. Opening track - The Mountain Has Ghosts - is a 14 minute plus epic that sees Kylver embrace the world of Post Metal/Post Rock with hints of Math Rock and Doomy Atmospherics that becomes ever so creepy as time passes by.

Imagine if Pelican had taken a more direct Math Rock approach to their music and that's where you end up with Kylver. It's purely an instrumental affair with different noises and sound effects adding extra texture and groove. Kylver even find the time to include 60s/70s style Organs and Keyboard which I didn't expect at all. This song is a creepy and highly atmospheric dense affair as Kylver surrounds your environment with subtle touches of doom and gloom. The remaining 3 songs on the album follow the same hollow path as the opening track with The Mountain Ghost leading you to a Feast, A Dance and its inevitable Death.

Kylver have taken a more Progressive Rock approach especially with the structure of all of the songs and have built Post-Metal theatrics on top of that. Second track - The Feast Of The Mountain Ghost - has a more experimental vibe with jagged guitars and hazy synths for a slight trippy feel. It's more of a slow paced affair but still an intriguing journey to take especially when the heavier riffs start to take over. I don't know how Kylver came up with the idea to merge 60s/70s synths with Post-Rock/Post-Metal but it's a great idea that pays huge dividends for the band. As Kylver may have ideas too big for their station but you can't deny how wonderful the results sound.

The other two songs - The Dance Of The Mountain Ghost and The Death Of The Mountain Ghost - more than matches the excitement of the opening two tracks with Kylver keeping you on the edge of your seat. The instrumental work is impressive through out as is the use of the different noises to convey a world full of danger. The 2nd half of the album is more Math Rock focused which gives Kylver drummer - Barry - plenty of scope to show off and impress people with his superb technical ability. OK, I've gone on long enough. The Mountain Ghost is a stunning debut album that Kylver should be very proud of. Keep an eye out for this band as I sense some exciting times ahead for these warped individuals.

Thanks to Kylver for the promo. The Mountain Ghost will be available to buy on CD/DD from May 21st 2015.

Words by: Steve Howe

For More Information: