As soon as the listener presses the play button, one is welcomed to the opening title track, Mothman Takes Flight, with a welcoming of a duet of vocals and a sludgy progression of the guitars and drums.
As the journey continues with the second track, Hollowed Earth, and the remaining ten songs, the listener is taken on a thought-provoking exploration of cryptids, conspiracy views, cryptozoology, and folklore based in Philadelphia. These themes are interwoven with lyrical discussions on anxiety, isolation, global warming, war, and manufactured consent, offering a diverse and intellectually stimulating experience.
Into The Hollow is an impressive album that treats listeners to a diverse collection of eleven songs that span thirty minutes. Each track stands out with its unique style, ensuring the listener never gets bored or hears repetitive sounds. The album seamlessly blends stoner metal and heavy rock, infusing them with an innovative twist that captivates the audience. It skilfully incorporates the foundational elements of heavy rock while capturing the raw energy of stoner metal, the aggressive tones of sludge metal, and the dynamic, guitar-driven sound of progressive metal, creating a unique and exciting musical experience.
Mothman‘s music is a rich tapestry of this fruit of art, blending the composition of intricate lyrics, powerful vocals, and mesmerising instrumentals. Their unique sound is built on a foundation of harmonies, melodies, and a touch of experimental and progressive rock influences. The music takes the listener through diverse groovy rhythms, showcasing a multi-vocal range that captures perfectly various emotions.
With elements of light and dark, heavy and mellow sections, and an array of tempos, the music also incorporates folk and acoustic elements and the collaborative talent of guest musicians.
The result is a captivating blend of sounds and moods that sets Mothman‘s music apart, engaging and immersing the listener in a unique musical journey. Into the Hollow achieves greater depth and complexity by including guest members. Specifically, Jason Roberts contributes lead vocals on tracks three and four and vocals on track five. Jason is known for his solo work as part of the blackgaze/doomgaze act Breaths, which I have reviewed previously.
Additionally, Kirby and Joe Sobieski are featured on the sixth and eighth tracks, while Sam Parkinson expertly performs the guitar solo on track seven. If you’re seeking a unique and innovative approach to stoner metal, ‘Mothman and the Thunderbirds’ are the perfect choice. Each song’s distinct artwork offers a fresh perspective and a unique identity. This, combined with top-notch devilmanship, production, and songwriting, makes for an intriguing and exciting album
The album comes to an end with the last song, Hollow Sun. We want to give a shoutout to Mothman and the Thunderbirds for letting us review his album, Into The Hollow. Now, we’re going to wrap it up by talking about the final three sins and concluding the review.
