Monday 20 June 2016

Haast's Eagled - "II: For Mankind" (Album Review)

By: Chris Bull

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 27/05/2016
Label: Holy Roar Records


The majestic, sweeping 'Zoltar' begins with piano and a warm, all encompassing riff. If this song was the sea, I would happily drown in its crystal waters and when we get the heavy stuff... boy is it heavy!  Fans of musical journeys take note; THIS is the album you need to hear this year. Its epic, it's majestic, it's fucking brilliant.

“II: For Mankind” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Pyazz  Bhonghi
2). The Uncle
3). Zoltar
4). White Dwarf

The Review

South East Wales' doomiest sons return with 'II: For Mankind' their first proper album. I'll let you in on a little secret; it's fucking awesome!

The guitars that growl on the opening few bars of 'Pyaaz Bonghi' rip through the sound system. Guitarist/Vocalist Adam Wrench has clearly been studying Yob in both vocal delivery and guitar tone (he even bought a pedal from Mike Scheidt) but manages to keep it entirely original. The track paces slowly and powerfully throughout its 12 minutes, while diminutive sticksman Joe Sheehy lays waste to his kit, smashing the skins like a man 5 times his size.

The track takes a turn towards a more melodic and bright sound around the 7 minute mark letting the notes swim around the oceans created by Wrench's superb vocals. Then we get piano. In doom--? Yes, fuck you; it works brilliantly, closing the track off in epic fashion. 'The Uncle' treads a similar path, epic and widespread in its dynamics, heavy when it needs to be and at only 8.30, the shortest track on the album.

The majestic, sweeping 'Zoltar' begins with more piano and a warm, all encompassing riff. If this song was the sea, I would happily drown in its crystal waters. Halfway through (around 10 minutes in) we get the heavy stuff...and boy is it heavy! Towards the end we get more piano and...saxophone! I love this album!

Finally we get 'White Dwarf' which resembles the Haast's Eagled we know and love. The melodic vocals are at their absolute peak, while the rhythm section maintains the steady pace. Guitars range from the savagely heavy to the subdued and simplistic and everywhere in between. Its epic, it's majestic, it's fucking brilliant.
Fans of musical journeys take note; THIS is the album you need to hear this year. Full of more variety and surprises than a bag of Revels, this is surely to rank high on several end of year lists.

Do yourself a favour and buy it!

II: For Mankind” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook