Album Review: Mothman and Thunderbirds - Into the Hollow (2021)
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| Picture Credit: Mothman and The Thunderbirds Artwork: Drahma R. |
Mothman and The Thunderbirds - Into the Hollow
Release Date: May 21, 2021
Label: selfrelease
Format: Digital
Length: 31:37
Genre: Prog Metal / Alternative Metal
Origin: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
"Into the Hollow" is the debut album by Philadelphia's Alex Parkinson, also known as Mothman. The solo artist has written all eleven tracks on "Into the Hollow" and he has recorded bass, drums, guitars, vocals, and vocoder. Furthermore, Mothman was responsible for programming, mixing and mastering. And then there are The Thunderbirds, guest musicians, namely
Jason Roberts (vocals on 'Infinite Ocean'),
Kirby (vocals on 'The Simpsons = Real Footage),
Sam Parkinson (guitar solo on 'Agarthan Riders), and
Joe Sobieski (vocals on 'Cloud Giant').
Also, Egor Lappo and Carcassbomb are named as further guests who supported Mothman during the process of creation for "Into the Hollow".
The term describing this album the best, is probably freedom. Mothman and Theunderbirds can hardly be categorized since each of the eleven tracks has their very unique style. The song 'Roko's Basilisk' for example starts off with easygoing folk tunes and then steadily transgresses into brutal Thrash Metal. 'The Simpsons = Real Footage' (video above, my personal favourite by the way) on the other hand is a powerful Prog Metal anthem.
And Prog Metal is probably the best way to approach the versatile style of "Into the Hollow" although Alternative Metal and Stoner Metal may be the most prominent influences on the album's sound.
Mothman's debut album is hence some kind of Sabbath-(early-)Metallica-Kylesa clash built on a foundation of contemporary Heavy Prog and performed free from boundaries. The variety makes this album very exciting and with tracks like 'Cloud Giant' (video above) or 'Nomad', it has some amazing highlights. Yet altogether, "Into the Hollow" appears a little swampy and incoherent. It is a good album without question but despite its variety, it somehow lacks sustainability.
As a debut, "Into the Hollow" has a lot of potential. Hence, I am lookig forward to Mothman's following releases in which the artist can create a more sustainable sound. Thus, lovers of heavy and progressive music will do no wrong, keeping the name Mothman in mind.
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