Not long after I reviewed Molch's On Hexen Ground last month for the site, I received an email from Callum of Baosbheinn asking whether I'd be interested in reviewing their upcoming debut EP The Mountain Calls, so here we are.
Based in Sheffield, Baosbheinn derive their name from the mountain of the same name situated in the Torridon area of the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. The name is Scottish Gaelic for (depending on your source), Wizard's Hill, Hill of the face, Hunting Hill or Hill of the Hag while the band's Bandcamp page states it translates to The Witches’ Peak. Baosbheinn are comprised of Krist – Vocals/Noise Table, Nick – Guitar, John – Drums and the aforementioned Callum on Bass/Tape Loops. The record's themes revolve around being “inspired by the shadows cast over all our lives. These challenges, like the mountain, loom over us & call us to conquer them” and follows “Krist's assessment and diagnosis of bipolar disorder the lyrics explore the creator's mental health crises and slow road to recovery through themes of dark folk and witchcraft.” In this respect it can be viewed as a cathartic piece of work and it'll be interesting to see how it translates musically. The cover-art is certainly indicative of a band with a taste for the more extreme end of Metal, specifically the Blackened variety, what with the band's name written in that style of script along with the kind of nature centered artwork that has adorned many bands in that genre's covers.
Imagine my surprise then that upon expecting pummelling blastbeats, I am instead met with 'Unquiet Grave' that does indeed feature harsh Vocals, but is the kind of misanthropic Sludge you may have expected to hear in the 1990s with bands such as Buzz*Oven, Eyehategod, Grief and so on. What really stands out here are the grooves, which in some respects recalls the vintage Noise-Rock/Alt-Metal of early Helmet (specifically Strap It On and Meantime). All in all a promising start. 'The Mountain Calls' riffs are exceptionally Doomy and recalls All Heed the Black God, the debut album from Norway's Saint Karloff what with their heavy Sabbath vibes. Saint Vitus, Witchfinder General, Iron Monkey are also names that at times come to mind here. As with 'Unquiet Grave' I defy anyone to not headbang along.
'Interlude' is exactly that and at thirty six seconds, its the shortest track on the EP. A collection of Ambient atmospheric noise it showcases a more experimental side to the band's repertoire. 'Feumaidh Tu Leigheas' (Scottish Gaelic for You Need To Heal) has a definite 1970's Hard Rock sound ala James Gang, ZZ Top, Jimi Hendrix which again highlights the band's fondness for groove and melody despite the track's Noisier elements. As someone with a fondness for that era this ticked all of my musical boxes. 'Pit' takes us back to Noise-Rock with a sound that would easily suit any number of Amphetamine Reptile releases of the late 80's and early 90's. There are also strong hints of classic Melvins, Soundgarden, Tad, indicating an influence from the more Metal wing of 'Grunge', the murky discordance proving an ideal conclusion to The Mountain Calls and more importantly a personal favourite of yours truly.
One minor quibble is I'm not sure whether the artwork, logo (and even the bandname) necessarily meshes all that well with the sound Baosbheinn are going for and whether this has the potential to confuse prospective listeners. However that said, a lot of promise has been showcased here and one which certainly bodes well for the band's future.
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