I read a lot of descriptions while scanning the web for
music. Some from other like-minded fan’s recommendations, but mostly I go
straight to the tags and descriptions to weed out stuff I don’t have time for.
It’s about efficiency in today’s Internet music marketing. Well if I was in
charge that’s what I’d focus on. Get a good slogan, have badass cover art to
portray a visual of what the music might sound like and your odds are better
off that folks will listen. If it sucks it sucks, and they’ll turn it off and
not come back, but that first impression is a key element for me. My first
impression upon getting the recommendation to check out Bask was textbook
perfection in setting the hook deep into my soul. They snagged another fan
instantaneously.
Describing themselves:
“With roots in americana,
stoner metal and post-rock, Bask is turning out their own brand of doom.
Psychedelic, heavy, and scenic songs weave through sections of driving riffs,
thundering percussion, loose grooves and glimmering guitar. All topped with vocals
that conjure spirits of old country crooners”
That had me intrigued on top of that wicked artwork on the
cover of American Hollow. Love the shades and blends of yellows and reds, with
a spooky scene containing deer antlers, owls, and some sort of witchy woman as
the main focal point. I would classify this as top shelf album art and
something I would want to see how it sounds by the art alone.
Now to the music. As much as I loved their description of
themselves, I hate to say I only slightly agree. Or maybe I disagree with
several other descriptions on the net I read. They all went for the western Americana, folk aspect
that the band latently portrays. I’ll admit, that I too was mostly interested
into how they would weave in an Americana vibe into post-metal/doom rock upon
reading that and not having pushed play yet. To me it’s more in the lyrics than
anything, and not much of an Americana
vibe musically at all. The theme of the record fills the Americana description with the storyline
involved, which suggests the band is into the old western landscape and
spiritual folklore. I can dig that myself and is what I find so attractive
about this album.
The album veers from acoustic passages on ‘A Man’s Worth’,
to an ethereally atmospheric blend of post metal, stoner rock and an added
psychedelic indie-rock flair in areas of vocal tones throughout. The guitars
soar elegantly between harmonic chugs to progressively intricate passages.
Vocals open up with a mystical vibe not unlike My Morning Jacket, but wearing a
denim jacket sporting a beard and paired up with a metallic atmosphere veering
from post-hardcore screams to laid back western tales of sorrow and alternative
country musings.
I haven’t heard anything quite like this all year long, and
I’ve listened to damn near a 1000 different albums at this point, mostly good,
some great, and a few, like Bask, get the nod as being magnificent. I can’t
quite pick a favorite song on the album as they are all equally special and
have their own identity. At first I really fell in love with the closing
track “Endless Summer” with its long drawn out build up into an absolutely
gorgeous climax. Its like you’re listening to the angels of heaven riffing
their blessings unto the true believers in rock and roll. I’ll go as far to say
it reminded me of my AOTY from 2011, ‘Hands - Give Me Rest’ to an extent, which
I recommend you check out if you haven’t listened. ‘Endless Summer’ is a
stunning closing to an even more intriguing album. A must listen to band for
open minded fans of rock, metal, indie, country, hardcore, etc…. Perhaps not
for the average straight up metal head, or stereotypical stoner rock fan
looking for the formulaic approach to their favorite sounds. Bask intelligently
incorporate several styles together to produce a heavy as hell album that is
soft and emotional around the edges, perhaps symbolized by those flower petals
surrounding the cover art scene?
This could very well end up at the top of my favorite albums
of the year at this point. You can stream/purchase the album on bandcamp, and
also buy a vinyl copy of the record out on CrimsonEye Records here. I am
anxiously awaiting my gold copy, which took no hesitation to purchase on my
end.
-The Huntsman
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