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A Silver Mt. Zion - Horses In The Sky CD (album) cover

HORSES IN THE SKY

A Silver Mt. Zion

 

Post Rock/Math rock

3.87 | 85 ratings

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Dim
Prog Reviewer
5 stars An absolutely infectious album, after one go 'round I was hooked. Beautiful music, beautiful lyrics, and beautiful everything else, a silver mount Zion really proves their genius with this album. Blending haunting vocals, Godspeed strings, and post rock electrics together to create an emotional roller coaster. Going from vulgar hate, to soft laments, mostly about the state of the world, and how terrible it is, you may get the impression that this is a weird punk rock band, and in reality, it kind of is, and though punk rock is one of the most disgusting forms of music out there, very little music has impacted me lyrically as this one.

The songs on this album range from six to thirteen minutes long, all of them filled with Efrims haunting voice and lyrics. Most are driven by a string section, while the guitarists strum away on simple chords with weird effects. If you are into prog music for speed, intensity, and technicality, this is, in no way the band for you. All the songs are at a slow pace, yet build and speed up a bit, but not to the point their former band, Godspeed you! Black emperor would have gone. I think the reason for the lack of more intense music is because this band is a vocal band, one of the few post rock bands who follow this banner, therefore the music... supports... the... vocals... IT EXISTS IN PROGRESSIVE MUSIC... and I love it. I cant really put my finger on whats so great about the music, but there's an eeriness that consumes it that makes it so beautiful, organic, and original.

What sets A silver Mount Zion apart from punk rock bands is that there is a kind of raw emotion there that you will never be able to tap with blinding speeds and nagging vocals. What sets A sliver Mount Zion apart from other post rock outfits is that they're much more frontal with the music, instead of starting out incredibly slow, and build to an ear splitting climax, the music is led by the Efrims intense vocals, and while the guitars are on doing they're own thing with arpeggios and semi sludgy effects, the strings usually mimic the darkness the lyrics are trying to show you. In songs like God Bless our dead marines, and hang on to each other, the message is clear The worlds a mess, and so are we, with wailing and ranting in Efrims ever more unstable voice. Though in songs like Horses in the sky and and ring them bells of freedom, the same message is still being sung, but in a much more bleak and desperate sound, with mumbled and extremely sad vocals, these songs are the ones that really get my emotions going, and at the end of the last song, you feel absolutely heartbroken by what Efrims said, and you may even feel convinced by what he's said.

Explaining this album is near impossible, and I hope what I've written will possibly spark your interest in this band. This outfit, and especially this album are extremely underrated, and that is an understatement worthy of a trophy. This music is just powerful, and shows you dont need to be a technical wizard to make impacting and mind blowing music. Really this album actually got me to listen and understand the lyrics, something a quit doing since I started listening to Yes, and lets be serious, lyrics are not very good in prog music, but this band can pull out some of the most emotive lyrics you may ever hear. And like I said earlier, this group is not for everyone, hell, it probably isn't for some of the more hardcore fans of Godspeed you! Black emperor, but for those of you looking for some extremely emotional, and gut wrenching music, I recommend this album all the way. 5 stars!

Dim | 5/5 |

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