Engine's Music Reviews

Engine · 10-03-2010, 09:49 PM

I'm upset over this. This band, Mare, made a great record and disbanded. I would be tempted to call it worthwhile just because it was released by the Hydra Head label - but I would not be so biased. I call this great because I have loved it for over 5 years and still put it on regularly. That, and it's got some extreme-like heavy shit mixed with slow melodic sounds and it's rare for a band like that to hold my attention for so long.

So..why? Well, somehow it hits the perfect sweet-spot that I guess does exist in post-metal, et al. I can't emphasize enought how rare this is - very few bands have done it. Make a heavy/screamy/whispery/post-rock album in the mid-00s that holds up today. Mare did.

They made this self-titled EP that runs about 25 minutes long and it is good to the last echoey, dissonant, slowly executed power chord. The vocals are key. If you don't like 'extreme' vocals then I am sorry you have read this far - because that's what Mare does, mostly. Deathly and desolate like American Black Metal. But this was made in 2004 and it's also got plenty of appeal for folks who like heavy post-rock from around that time. I mean, heavy heavy vocals mixed with quiet, melodic ones that actually sound good. And lots of 'spacey' interludes that'll hook the Mogwai fans.

If you can handle it then please listen to the entire thing start to finish. It's not very long and it flows together better than most post-rock/post-metal albums. Truly.

Here are the first two songs - after these there are only two more to go

Anisette

They Sent You

10-03-2010, 09:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
Engine air quote Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: pollen & mold Posts: 3,108	MARE: s/t EP I'm upset over this. This band, Mare, made a great record and disbanded. I would be tempted to call it worthwhile just because it was released by the Hydra Head label - but I would not be so biased. I call this great because I have loved it for over 5 years and still put it on regularly. That, and it's got some extreme-like heavy shit mixed with slow melodic sounds and it's rare for a band like that to hold my attention for so long. So..why? Well, somehow it hits the perfect sweet-spot that I guess does exist in post-metal, et al. I can't emphasize enought how rare this is - very few bands have done it. Make a heavy/screamy/whispery/post-rock album in the mid-00s that holds up today. Mare did. They made this self-titled EP that runs about 25 minutes long and it is good to the last echoey, dissonant, slowly executed power chord. The vocals are key. If you don't like 'extreme' vocals then I am sorry you have read this far - because that's what Mare does, mostly. Deathly and desolate like American Black Metal. But this was made in 2004 and it's also got plenty of appeal for folks who like heavy post-rock from around that time. I mean, heavy heavy vocals mixed with quiet, melodic ones that actually sound good. And lots of 'spacey' interludes that'll hook the Mogwai fans. If you can handle it then please listen to the entire thing start to finish. It's not very long and it flows together better than most post-rock/post-metal albums. Truly. Here are the first two songs - after these there are only two more to go Anisette They Sent You __________________ Like an arrow, I was only passing through.