Mose Giganticus - Gift Horse
Release Date: July 20, 2010
Record Label: Relapse Records
Who?
Formed in Pennsylvania in 1999, Mose Giganticus began as synth-punk outfit. Though they still retain a considerable amount of electronic influence, their Relapse debut Gift Horse is a marked departure, finding the band moving in a decidedly heavier direction.
How is it?
It's almost a shame this isn't their debut record as it puts all prior output to shame. Heavy yet accessible, pummeling yet groovy, Gift Horse is a band coming into its own and realizing their true creative potential. Sounding something like a cross between early Mastodon and cybergrind favorites Genghis Tron, Gift Horse is a glimpse of a band firing on all four cylinders, seamlessly blending metal and electronic elements into a refreshing sound that manages to never sound as cheesy as synth-infused metal might sound on paper. In fact, this record might even win over the ears of those who in the past may have been on the fence about having electronic textures in their metal. The synth lines and guitar riffs compliment one another remarkably well, and the rhythm section is tight and commanding, holding everything together effortlessly. The vocals are more or less standard for this brand of metal - throaty and menacing, yet never strained or indecipherable. Featuring lyrics that deal with Christian mythology (particularly that of the Book of Revelation), each song represents something of a mini-epic. Thankfully, these apocalyptic tales keep far from the pompous bombast that is so easy to fall prey to when dealing with such lyrical themes. (See: Power metal). In summation, Gift Horse is a truly unique release, and I for one can't wait to see what Mose Giganticus thinks up next.
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