Review HOWLING GIANT “Crucible & Ruin”

Howling Giant is one of the most exciting newcomers to the rock business. The four-piece band hails from Nashville, Tennessee — and ‘four-piece’ is not a typo. Adrian Lee Zamrano joined towards the end of the songwriting process and added a few final touches to the new songs.

Howling Giant launched their debut album, “The Space Between Worlds”, in 2019, but it was their second album, “Glass Future”, that propelled them forward after they signed a deal with Magnetic Eye Records.

With “Crucible & Ruin”, the band picks up where they left off with their previous album. It’s a dynamic mix of stoner rock, psychedelic rock, and hard rock, sometimes with a grungy vibe.

The roaring guitar sound, as exemplified in the hypnotic “Melchor’s Bones”, is particularly striking and being equipped with a narrative part, the song provides an extra twist to this pounding rock anthem. Howling Giant’s sound is neither old-school nor modern. Rather, it is the vivid spirit of rock music that resonates through each song, beginning with the up-tempo opener, ‘Canyons’. Powerful vocals and a strong sound leap out of the speakers, providing a furious start to the album. This demonstrates the intensity and dedication with which the four-piece approach their work, which is also an essential element of “Hunter’s Mark”.

The band doesn’t take their foot off the gas and goes full force through the first three tracks of the album, before “Lesser Gods” reveals Howling Giant’s soulful side. The instrumental slowly builds up, spreading a melancholic vibe from start to finish.

Also worth mentioning is the pulsating start of “Archivist”, which at more than six minutes is also the longest track. The longer instrumental intro feels like walking through an arc of melodies, before the song bursts with energy while maintaining the basic theme from the beginning.

“The Observatory” is an interlude towards the end of “Crucible & Ruin”, introducing the closing track. “Beholder II: Labyrinth”, the second six-minute track on the album, starts with a mighty Sabbathian riff that turns into a galloping guitar theme. Combined with the excellent vocals, the song is the perfect finale, offering a summary of the album as a whole.

Howling Giant is a stunning band. It took them a while to find their musical identity and build a strong fanbase, but with “Crucible & Ruin”, they deliver a thrilling album that shines with their own unique sound. Rooted in rock, fascinated by metal, and fuelled by dedication: that’s Howling Giant, and that’s what echoes through each song on “Crucible & Ruin”. This album is a ‘must-have’ for every rock fan.