Monday 16 April 2018

Eagle Twin - The Thundering Heard (Album Review)


Release date: March 30th 2018. Label: Southern Lord Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Thundering Heard – Tracklisting

1.Quanah Un Rama 11:24
2.Elk Wolfv Hymn 08:21
3.Heavy Hoof 07:21
4.Antlers of Lightning 14:22

Line-Up

Tyler Smith - Drums
Gentry Densley - Vocals, Guitars

Review

Eagle Twin return after a six year absence with their epic sounding new album - The Thundering Herd. It's an album that sees Eagle Twin play to their absolute maximum strength by playing their trademark Drone/Doom sound with heavy elements of Psychedelic Sludge and Stoner Metal being added for extra potency.

Opening track - Quanah Un Rama - may have a slightly sounding mystical title but the music anything but with the band playing a down-tuned style of drone based Sludge/Stoner heavy riffs that will leave your hairs standing on end. The duo of Tyler Smith and Gentry Densley play a heavily wicked Drums and Guitar combination which has violent outbursts of melodic Psychedelic Sludge Rock. 

This album sees something that Eagle Twin sounding quite friendly in places with parts of the album very melodic whilst still remaining blissfully heavy as hell. The instrumental work is what stands out as the vocals only appear in brief moments on the opening track. Most of the songs run between eight minutes to fourteen minutes long. So don't go expecting Eagle Twin to give you an easy time of things. As they don't.

Second track - Ek Wolfv Hymn - opens at a much slower pace and less angrier tone than the opening track with the band playing an almost Post-Doom/Post-Rock melodic riff. Though the constant pounding drumming points to heavier moments and Eagle Twin don't disappoint. With the song adding gloomy atmospherics and that's thanks to the majestic vocals and cool lyrics. The song does gather momentum in both speed and volume with the drone based aspect adding a more volatile atmosphere.

The final two songs Heavy Hoof and Antlers Of Lightning are perhaps the best songs on the album with Eagle Twin playing a heavier style of Psychedelic Sludge/Doom Metal Riffs with a hint of drone based madness. The music drifts in so many directions that it can be hard to keep up at times but at least Eagle Twin keep the whole atmosphere of the album brutally heavy. With the heavy psychedelic parts allowing Eagle Twin's music to breathe more freely.

The lyrics can be very sly and humorous at times but matches the bleak sounds that the band excel at.

The final song - Antlers Of Lightning - runs past the fourteen minute mark and Eagle Twin play one final round of heavy distorted noises where the music remains firmly in the bleak sounding underbelly of heavy Sludge/Doom Metal riffs. The production on this album is fearless with the sound being constantly threatening and heavy from the start. Eagle Twin have never sounded so good.

The Thundering Herd is perhaps Eagle Twin's most complete album to date. If you're new to the world of Eagle Twin and want to see what all the fuss is about then this is the best place to start. Long-time fans will need to complete their Eagle Twin Record Collection with this must have album. The Thundering Herd is a delicious and dark violent audio treat.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Lauren at Rarely Unable PR for the promo. The Thundering Heard is now available to buy from Southern Lord Records on CD/DD/Vinyl.

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