Mose Giganticus
Gift Horse
Relapse Records

A band worthy of their moniker – Mose Giganticus certainly have a big, expansive sound. The heaviness is concentrated in short sharp driving pockets of sound; offset by the chiming synth waves and the unrelenting chugging rock ferocity. On ‘The Left Path’ the poppy-keyboard elements mixed with the gruelling Mastadon-esque thump mashes together superbly, whilst the fiery vocal chant is passionate and invigorating. This record has guts and no mistake – it churns and bubbles with anthemic enthusiasm, particularly ‘Demon Tusk’ – a rhythmic stomp of almost battle-metal, fist in the air power.

The sprawling keyboard wash on ‘Days Of Yore’ is reminiscent of Zombi, channelling all their 80s dark synthesised tones into a grinding, low-end furrow of expansive noise. When the vocals kick in, there’s no denying the rage and furious emotion in vocalist (and brainchild) Matt Garfield, who’s dangerous baritone is a vulgar and scratching seethe of fury. ‘The Great Deceiver’ features some nice synthesised vocoder action as well as dirty, scathing guitar lines which cut through the heavy clatter of keys and drums for the first time. The overdose of ivory on ‘White Horse’ is sublime; coming across as some kind of theatrical metal composition of synth-rock chaos. It’s so gloriously over the top and pompous, it’s difficult to find fault in something so expertly crafted. In fact, the whole album is just this – an epic, all-embracing, somewhat cumbersome, yet masterful piece of pulsating metallic rock that tramples the listener with its colossal reverb.

The crushing and yet someone one-dimensional blast of ‘The Seventh Seal’ shows massive balls, equal to that of High In Fire in both riffs and indeed the pounding of the drum beats. A triumphant and crushing blast of fiery metallic rock, soaked to the skin in lavish electronic influences and the guttural spirit of heavy metal.

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Review by Ross Macdonald