Not long ago, I read that Portland, Oregon band Young Hunter were about to start
recording their new album. My first
thought was, “Who?” My second thought
was, “Cool name,” although I’ve heard plenty of cool band names which weren’t
attached to music that lived up to the moniker’s impressiveness. Is that my fault for burdening them with
impossible expectations based on a name?
Probably. (But come on, if you’re
going to name your band, say, Gigantic,
fucking deliver, you know?)
Young Hunter’s announcement snagged my attention, perhaps
because they originally hail from the Southwest desert (where I’m from), or
possibly because they recently relocated to the Northwest (where I now
live). Hell, maybe it actually was their name. Regardless, I don’t believe I ever had a
choice—I’ve been an uncompromising seeker of new music long enough to
acknowledge that sometimes the cosmos just wants me to hear something. And, while I’ve lost count of how many
under-the-radar bands I’ve discovered through unlikely sources or apparent
chance, I absolutely rely on it now. I
keep my eyes and ears open, and the great music snob in the sky drops what I’m
supposed to check out into my little universe.
Thus did I end up with Young Hunter’s most recent release, the
three-song Embers at the Foot of Dark
Mountain ep.
This record thrums with confidence. Years of handling A&R for a label with
very little money taught me to look out for those unique talents that seem to
come out of the artistic womb fully formed.
Back then, if I’d heard a band this mature, I would’ve offered them a
contract.
Calling this heavy rock does little to explain it. Yes, Young Hunter is heavy, but not because
of crushing riffs or rage-fueled vocals.
The music is resonant and hypnotic, the vocals smooth and
restrained. But there’s a blanketing
weightiness to it, like an alchemical transmutation of “Why am I here?” into
song.
“Welcome to Nothing” is an anthem for dislocation. It brings the metaphorical house lights down,
then kicks in with the elemental rhythm of an urgent war drum. “Trail of Tears” balances singer/guitarist
Benjamin Blake’s baritone atop a questing, bounty-hunter-in-pursuit vibe. It’s cinematic stuff, bringing images of
declining civilizations and extinguishing stars to my mind (something I only
experience when the songs are really good).
Patient but restless, expansive yet claustrophobic, Embers sounds like someone searching, and feels like things coming
to an end.
Embers at the Foot of
Dark Mountain was released in late 2013, and the band is crowdfunding their
latest effort with a campaign on Kickstarter.
Launched in mid-April, the project has until May 11th to amass $4,444 that will cover the costs of
mixing, mastering, and vinyl production, not to mention rewards for their
backers.
I have no idea how many fans Young Hunter has. Maybe there are fifty of us. Maybe there are ten thousand, and they’ll
have already met their funding goal by the time this is published. Even so, I couldn’t take a chance of it not
happening without trying to help.
Young Hunter accomplishes what thousands of artists have
failed to do: they make resignation and
disenchantment sound romantic*. Not
everyone appreciates that in a band, but I think it’s just about the ultimate
compliment… which is why I (and perhaps you) absolutely must hear what Ben and his crew will do with a full album. Listen to “Welcome to Nothing” from the Embers EP, and maybe you’ll hear what I
hear. And, if you dig what you hear and
want to support Young Hunter’s Kickstarter, check out the details here.
* Jim Jarmusch achieved this with his typically
under-recognized 2014 vampire masterpiece, Only
Lovers Left Alive… just to illustrate the quality of company Young Hunter
are in.
- MeteorJadd
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