MOTHER OF GOD
''ANTHROPOS''
JANUARY 22 2013
47:54
1. 230/2:52
2. Graenslandet/3:04
3. The Forest/3:32
4. Aim for the Sun/5:17
5. Adrift/4:09
6. To Live/3:54
7. Hoenan/2:16
8. Windows/4:02
9. Something from Below/6:39
10. R. McCord/3:58
11. Lucy/8:11
Jimmy Hurtig/Drums
Daniel Nygren/Vocals, Guitar
Carl Lindblad/Bass, Backing Vocals
Johan Kvastegård/Guitar
Pierre Swärd/Organ on 6, 7
REVIEW
By Eduardo Rivadavia
Mother of God's debut album is named Anthropos, based on the original Greek meaning of the word: human - by which one could argue that the Swedish four-piece is either appealing to everyman honesty or seeking to transcend just that with its music. Any guesses? Truth is, whatever the truth, Mother of God are only human...but since when is that a bad thing? Whether the group is peeling off urgent, riff-driven muscle cars like "230," "Graenslandet," and "Hoenan," or vaguely psychedelic dirges such as "Aim for the Sun" and "Windows," the abiding aesthetic commandeering Anthropos is one of Soundgarden fronted by Kyuss vocalist John Garcia, and, no, that doesn't mean the band simply sounds like Unida! In fact, new ingredients are continually added to the recipe as the album progresses, including somberly mellow vibes on "Adrift" and "Lucy" (think Mad Season), thrumming organ on "To Live," and then quasi-doom sloth/heaviness on "Something from Below." As the album's conclusion approaches, the inspiration game's final score is probably Seattle grunge 3 vs. stoner rock 2 -- in an upset, based on the initial nature of game play. But the fact is that actual winners and losers matter little or nothing at all, since Mother of God's entertaining obsession with both of these musical family trees ultimately makes winners of simpatico listeners of all stripes in the end.
ABOUT
"Woke up at dawn and felt a presence, nature spirits, observing me. Looked out through the window. Black shape. I went to the nearby forest and the journey had begun. Without a direct way, I went through the woods and crossed mountains. Suddenly elated by light, I was under the raven's wings. Numb. Awakened by a thud and the silhouettes of the three. Embrace. The circle was complete.” -- Mother of God
Born in 2008 and raised on rock in Morgårdshammar, Sweden, the four-piece Mother of God cast off a lot of the retro ‘70s mentality of their countrymen in favor of a more modern approach. Well, 20 years more modern, anyway. Mother of God no doubt have some appreciation for the finer things in ‘70s rock – there are beards to prove it – but musically they incorporate influences from grunge and the heavy grooves of the early ‘90s. Bands like Soundgarden and Alice in Chains mesh their downtrodden grunge melodies alongside classic inspiration drawn from Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin.
These might sound like familiar elements – at least the names ring out – but Mother of God bring their own emotional spin to their Small Stone debut, Anthropos, and never quite cooperate with what you think they’ll do next. The band has released two prior EPs – 2011’s Forging a New Path and their debut – and they recorded and mixed Anthropos in Borlänge with Erik Nerback, Chris Goosman mastered, and Sanna Albenius, Robin Gnista and Alexander von Wieding provided art and layout design.
In addition to festival appearances at Getaway Rock, Wacken Open Air in Germany and Peace & Love, Mother of God have shared the stage with YOB, Dozer, Graveyard, Imperial State Electric and more, and they’ll look to continue their live domination in Scandinavia and beyond in support of Anthropos, shoving their eclectic sound and undeniable hooks right in the faces of everyone who thinks they know what heavy rock should sound like.
''ANTHROPOS''
JANUARY 22 2013
47:54
1. 230/2:52
2. Graenslandet/3:04
3. The Forest/3:32
4. Aim for the Sun/5:17
5. Adrift/4:09
6. To Live/3:54
7. Hoenan/2:16
8. Windows/4:02
9. Something from Below/6:39
10. R. McCord/3:58
11. Lucy/8:11
Jimmy Hurtig/Drums
Daniel Nygren/Vocals, Guitar
Carl Lindblad/Bass, Backing Vocals
Johan Kvastegård/Guitar
Pierre Swärd/Organ on 6, 7
REVIEW
By Eduardo Rivadavia
Mother of God's debut album is named Anthropos, based on the original Greek meaning of the word: human - by which one could argue that the Swedish four-piece is either appealing to everyman honesty or seeking to transcend just that with its music. Any guesses? Truth is, whatever the truth, Mother of God are only human...but since when is that a bad thing? Whether the group is peeling off urgent, riff-driven muscle cars like "230," "Graenslandet," and "Hoenan," or vaguely psychedelic dirges such as "Aim for the Sun" and "Windows," the abiding aesthetic commandeering Anthropos is one of Soundgarden fronted by Kyuss vocalist John Garcia, and, no, that doesn't mean the band simply sounds like Unida! In fact, new ingredients are continually added to the recipe as the album progresses, including somberly mellow vibes on "Adrift" and "Lucy" (think Mad Season), thrumming organ on "To Live," and then quasi-doom sloth/heaviness on "Something from Below." As the album's conclusion approaches, the inspiration game's final score is probably Seattle grunge 3 vs. stoner rock 2 -- in an upset, based on the initial nature of game play. But the fact is that actual winners and losers matter little or nothing at all, since Mother of God's entertaining obsession with both of these musical family trees ultimately makes winners of simpatico listeners of all stripes in the end.
ABOUT
"Woke up at dawn and felt a presence, nature spirits, observing me. Looked out through the window. Black shape. I went to the nearby forest and the journey had begun. Without a direct way, I went through the woods and crossed mountains. Suddenly elated by light, I was under the raven's wings. Numb. Awakened by a thud and the silhouettes of the three. Embrace. The circle was complete.” -- Mother of God
Born in 2008 and raised on rock in Morgårdshammar, Sweden, the four-piece Mother of God cast off a lot of the retro ‘70s mentality of their countrymen in favor of a more modern approach. Well, 20 years more modern, anyway. Mother of God no doubt have some appreciation for the finer things in ‘70s rock – there are beards to prove it – but musically they incorporate influences from grunge and the heavy grooves of the early ‘90s. Bands like Soundgarden and Alice in Chains mesh their downtrodden grunge melodies alongside classic inspiration drawn from Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin.
These might sound like familiar elements – at least the names ring out – but Mother of God bring their own emotional spin to their Small Stone debut, Anthropos, and never quite cooperate with what you think they’ll do next. The band has released two prior EPs – 2011’s Forging a New Path and their debut – and they recorded and mixed Anthropos in Borlänge with Erik Nerback, Chris Goosman mastered, and Sanna Albenius, Robin Gnista and Alexander von Wieding provided art and layout design.
In addition to festival appearances at Getaway Rock, Wacken Open Air in Germany and Peace & Love, Mother of God have shared the stage with YOB, Dozer, Graveyard, Imperial State Electric and more, and they’ll look to continue their live domination in Scandinavia and beyond in support of Anthropos, shoving their eclectic sound and undeniable hooks right in the faces of everyone who thinks they know what heavy rock should sound like.
