CD review MOUNTAINEER ‘Passages’

(8/10) The tracklist of Mountaineer’s new album ‘Passages’ is quite easy to grasp. There are two section – ‘Hymnal’ and ‘Catacombs’ – with each of them being divided into four parts. It’s not brainpowerful math that this leads to eight songs that are anchored in post metal.

What the naming of tunes expresses also reflects the approach of how this album was done. ‘Passages’ was written during three weeks in 2017 and it was created from start to end in order. With Clayton Bartholomew in the lead, the trio, also including Miguel Meza and Patrick Spain, crafted songs that do have a lot of emotional aspects embedded.

The Oakland-based band plays post-metal that’s impressive. A lot of creativity and spontaneity leads to great songs and it’s the various layers, making each of them to a little highlight. Calmer moments and heavy sound eruption are combined in way that leads to a constant level of excitement. Some part, like in ‘Hymnal: Passage III’ reminded me even of The Devin Townsend Band albums. It’s the musical width with songs like the mentioned that shifts the album towards a great aural experience. At the same time none of the songs is too complex to not get into it rather quickly.

To sum up: ‘Passages’ creates cool soundscapes, mostly combined with a melancholic depth. It’s like morning sunrays try to find their way through thicker morning fog and at the end it’s still open who wins. What is certain though is that ‘Passages’ is a rather good longplayer and demands some spinning on your record player before unveiling all the beautiful moments it includes.

(8/10)

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