SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THOSE DARN GNOMES – CALLING WHITETAILS TO A TUNED BOW

Those Darn Gnomes
Calling Whitetails To A Tuned Bow
Nefarious Industries

Those Darn Gnomes might be on to something. That something is a beautiful mix of all genres, instruments, noise, singing., and production all wrapped up on an EP that runs almost forty minutes long. To try to describe this album will be a disservice to the actual experience of listening to it for the first time, so note spoilers ahead. To start the album, the song “Birds” lulls you into thinking this is a metal/noise band with off-time drums and ferocious vocals. However, half way into the song, it suddenly turns to a folk/meditative/Black Metal experience, capturing acoustic guitars with blast beats and chanting? It is legendary stuff. Speaking of vocals, I really appreciate the different types on display, for example, you have King Diamond highs mixed with clean, and then Napalm Death lows. It’s a feast that we do not deserve. The second song “Hall” is much slower and sparse. It is almost like taking a break from the intro. It is still crazy with repeated electronic vocals this time and almost an alien invasion vibe. This song turns into a drum circle song about halfway in.  Thirdtrack, “A Cliff in Our Garden” is a cleanly-sung, jazzy, downtempo number that has samples and almost new age synths throughout. A great palate cleanser. Lastly, “The Frail Stag” goes for it. Full blast, apocalyptic start while at the middle turns to Godflesh drone. This album is undefinable from a genre perspective but that is not important. The important part is the enjoyment one gets out of discovering that it even exists at all.

Artist Links

Please leave this field empty

STAY UP-TO-DATE
WITH OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER!

* Mandatory Field

Check your inbox or spam folder now (just in case!) to confirm your subscription.