Review: Hanging Garden – Blackout Whiteout

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This review initially started as a quick review, however upon listening to the album I decided to do a more expansive review of it. It’s not as long or as detailed as some of my others, but that’s simply due to time constraints.

The story behind me reviewing this album is quite interesting actually. I was cleaning up an email account and this album popped into the review area. Having heard the name of the band before, I was intrigued as to what the album would sound like. I decided to pop it on whilst I was cleaning it out

Production wise, everything is audible and has a nice live feel to it. It doesn’t feel over produced but also has enough clarity and presence that it sounds very good. The production also suits the album, a super clean production would not really fit it.

Having a sound that borders on doom and heavy metal, the album takes the listener through multiple sonic landscapes and is quite honestly a joy to listen to. Ranging from picturesque relaxing areas, to dark and depressive environments, I honestly felt as though I was inside the music.

One of the particular standout tracks for me is the track “Unearth”. Opening with one the more aggressive sections before the calming voice comes in really make it something special. A moving and beautiful piano melody comes in around 1:07 and adds to the already impressive atmosphere. This track is honestly one of the best I’ve heard in a long time.

Another standout track for me is the track “Words that bear no meaning”. Having a calm synth and clean guitar riff to start before building up and adding more instruments it then explodes out with harsh vocals and driving distorted guitars along with the clean guitars and calm synth. Having a continuously changing atmosphere and feeling, it is once again one of the best tracks on the album.

The musical ideas expressed in this album are quite simply some of the best I’ve heard in a long time. Coupled with the vocals of Toni Toivonen, the whole album comes to life and makes it one of the best, if not the best album I’ve had the pleasure of listening to this year.

Rating: 9/10

Track list:

  1. Borrowed Eyes
  2. Whiteout
  3. Embers
  4. Eclipse
  5. Aoede
  6. Unearth
  7. Words That Bear No Meaning
  8. My Rise Is Your Fall
  9. Blackout

Standout tracks: Whiteout, Unearth, Words That Bear No Meaning.

Blackout Whiteout is available on the 25th September in Europe and 16th October in the USA via Lifeforce records.

Hanging Garden: official | facebook | twitter | vimeo | soundcloud

 

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