Article By: Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker ‡ Edited By: Leanne Ridgeway
It seems the older I get, the more and more I get into further-reaching atmospheric recordings. Ones that are especially on the emotive side of the spectrum, with intense feeling and determined to explore what lies within the realm of possibility.
That, in fact, perfectly segues us into today’s latest review, one tackling the début release from Portland’s Hound The Wolves, ‘Camera Obscura‘. It is scheduled to arrive on February 14th, a most ideal date in my opinion, as many folks are going to be romantically smitten with this four-song deluge of haunting, heavy rock.
Hound The Wolves happens to be Tim Burke (lap steel, drones, soundscapes), Juan Carlos Caceres (guitar, vocals, words), Cory DeCaire (bass), Ryan McPhaill (drums), and Nate Wright (Moog, aux. percussion). This quintet is on a quest, one driven by the desire to create deeply textured, multifaceted sonic scapes of heady psychedelia.
This most admirable undertaking is more than triumphantly achieved, as these four tracks, “If Lost In Mind“, “Masquerade“, “Omnia In Numeris Sita Sunt” and “Everything Lies Veiled In Numbers” are massive compositions, to put it mildly. They reek of outer-sound glories, with imaginative twists and turns at every opportunity.
One moment things are subtle, ethereal, and seemingly tranquil, as they lull you into a false sense of security. It is fleeting though, as before you know it, the calm erupts with pulsating emanations of proggy heaviness. Rippling rhythmic ruptures crash outward as airy guitars pierce the darkness and drums pound away. All of it active as an amazing vocal performance rides high upon this profound musical output.
Perhaps the most enthralling of these is the otherworldly haunts of “Omnia In Numeris Sita Sunt“, my current favorite. It is a bit more instrumental for the most part but does contain minimal vocal inserts. It is just one incredible component within a four-part masterpiece of feverish, transformative, semi-drone aural ritualism.
Check out Hound The Wolves’ recent official video gifting, “If Lost In Mind,” the only selection currently available for the public at this time. Hound The Wolves will be undertaking a string of Pacific Northwest tour dates at the time of the ‘Camera Obscura‘ release as well.
Pre-order/purchase ‘Camera Obscura‘ at this location.
Hound The Wolves tour dates:
Feb 16 @ The Funhouse Seattle, WA
Feb 17 @ High Water Mark Lounge Portland, OR
Feb 18 @ Old Nick’s Pub Eugene, OR
Feb 19 @ The Capitol Bend, OR
