Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Album Review: Heron Oblivion- Heron Oblivion

Heron Oblivion
Heron Oblivion
**** out of *****
Heron Oblivion finds the four members coming from a few other long time bands (Espers, Comets on Fire) and producing their debut album in a whirlwind of psychedelic fury, layered slow builds and ethereal vocals that haunt. From the opening crawl of "Beneath Fields" to closer "Your Hollows" the band is confident in the tone, delivery and mood.

While the sonics get twisted in gloriously fuzzy ways one constant is lead vocalist and drummer Meg Baird whose singing takes on an other worldly feel; she could take over the saloon singer for True Detective 3 if the show stays in that tortured haunted route.  

"Sudden Lament" is one of the more direct songs with the melody and beat staying fairly straight (with a roaring guitar solo dropped in) while "Rama" rolls our for over ten minutes setting a dramatic scene that soars and chugs at different times making for a harrowing ride.
 
The energy gets ramped up for "Oriar" which finds guitarists Charlie Sauffley and Noel Von Harmonson screeching and clawing at the wails in exhilarating fashion. "Faro" also lets the six strings and their pedals/effects loose on the ears with power and gusto. "Seventeen Landscapes" opens with a bass line and walks around the dark forest of sound off putting at times but in the best of ways.

One issue with the disk can be tied to Baird's singing. Her unique voice makes actual lyrical content secondary to the tone and feel, but for this kind of rock and roll sometimes style over substance can work wonders. 

An excellent first release from a band that feels lived in and fresh all at once, Heron Oblivion does what adventurous rock and roll should do.   
____________________________________________________________________
A few weeks back we previewed one of these tunes, and we were looking forward to the full length. It did not disappoint, this is some cool Psych/Noise Rock and right in our wheelhouse.

Support the band, buy the album and peep some video:


No comments:

Post a Comment