Chapel Hill's Horseback is one of those bands (or one-man-bands) whose influences are so vast and eclectic, that you can never really be sure what to expect when a new album comes out, or even where it's going to go from track to track. Elements of country, Americana, dark folk, psychedelia, drone, black metal, electronic, industrial, noise, ambient, and on and on and on creep in all over the place, creating a oeuvre of sonic art that's really unparalleled by Jenks Miller's contemporaries. Just listen to the synthy, grooving, almost krautrock-like precision of "Shape of One Thing" from the upcoming new album "Dead Ringers." I certainly wouldn't have expected this direction based on other albums and songs i've heard, but at the same time, how could i not expect another 180 degree turn? At any rate, it's a really cool jam, and i'm stoked for a new album. Get it from Relapse in August.
Chapel Hill experimental-psych-folk-ambient-drone-Americana-metal band Horseback have a new album up for grabs from Three Lobed Recordings. "Piedmont Apocrypha" finds the band in calmer waters, albeit dark waters nonetheless, as if something monstrous and sinister is lurking just beyond eyesight...waiting. Horseback have always managed to wear ALL of their influences on their sleeves, yet somehow still come out sounding like no one but themselves. Get the new record here and listen to the vast and sprawling album closer "Chanting Out the Low Shadow" below.
Chapel Hill experimental metal band Horseback just released a three-disc compilation of rarities and one-offs for Relapse Records called "A Plague of Knowing." It's amazing. The half decade's worth of material on this comp finds the band taking on elements of a number of different genres and molding them into a unique sound all their own. Black metal, drone, stoner metal, doom, psych rock, krautrock, and Americana all make appearances in this sprawling and excellent mix of jams. They even do us a solid and cover The Stooges. I highly recommend it. Take a listen to the slow burning "Heathen Earth" below.
