Harvester | facebook | bandcamp |
Released on July 1, 2016 via Independent
It’s been a while since I reviewed some new music for Echoes and Dust, but when I heard the new album Harmonic Ruptures by the Irish stoner metal band Harvester I just had to get some words on paper. Harvester come from Galway in the west of Ireland and Harmonic Ruptures is their second album after the in 2013 released The Blind Summit.
What attracted me the most to Harmonic Ruptures is the band’s effortless combining of various subgenres. The main theme on this album is stoner metal, but there are songs which lean more towards sludge rock, while including a thick heavy metal or noise rock style, while others remind me of Karma To Burn like riffing. One band that immediately came into my mind is Godstopper, a band I reviewed a couple of years ago and who play a slightly similar catchy sludge, though a bit on the heavier side, as Harvester do. Harvester’s songs are definitely written with the word ‘catchy’ in the back of their minds, as I had to press play over and over again, which is quite illustrating considering the amount of new music I listen to each day.
The opening track ‘Summoner’ is a great example of Harvester’s style, with some great sludgey riffing on display, but also with an added layer of heavy metal especially in the second half of the song when both guitarists Gavin Grealy and Bryan Higgins enter a dual guitar solo battle reminiscent of Iron Maiden and similar heavy metal bands. Just listen to the solos at around 4:10 into the track to get a good idea of this phenomenal guitar playing, while throwing your best devil horns!
But it’s not just great riffing, solos and sludgey rock as there are loads of stoner rock/metal elements making an appearance too. The intro of third track ‘Magnetic North’ sounds like it could have been on a Kuyss recording, with that warm, fuzzy guitar sound. But not long after this intro the track switches gears completely to be back in those familiar uptempo territories again. In fact, it’s this track in particular which reminds me of Kylesa’s sludge sound and playing.
The song-writing was mostly done by Gavin and he clearly has a keen ear for riffs and melody. Gavin’s vocals are great as well, reminding me a bit of Edinburgh progressive sludge band Dvne, which isn’t too surprising perhaps since Gavin played in Dvne on bass for a while. The production by James Eager by The Hive Studios in Kilcoole is spot on as well, with the vocals a wee bit to the background, giving the guitars centre stage. The drums sound beautifully organic as well, something I always appreciate in a good stoner metal album. As with most heavy albums these days James Plotkin provided his magic mastering touches, which hopefully indicates the band aims to release this on vinyl at some point.
Basically, if you like riffs, melody and great guitar solos you should really give Harmonic Ruptures a spin. It’s my stoner metal album of the summer for sure, and I’m absolutely gutted I’ll be missing their Edinburgh show later this month.
Check them out live if you can:
Thu 28 July – Edinburgh – The Banshee Labyrinth
Fri 29 July – Glasgow – Nice ‘n’ Sleazy
Sun 14 Aug – Belfast – Limelight w/ Mastodon
Mon 15 Aug – Dublin – Academy w/ Mastodon
Sun Oct 30 – Limerick – Siege of Limerick Fest, Dolans Warehouse
