Mountains Crave (UK): “As We Were When We Were Not”

​Surprisingly beautiful atmospheric black metal album by Mountains Crave from Leeds, U.K., formed in 2013 with members from several British bands including Old Corpse Road, which we have previously written about. After the debut with the self-titled EP in 2014, the British have also released the first full-length As We Were When We Were Not, a title that is emblematic of the band's longing for meditation and introspection. Inspired by Aldous Huxley's 1962 lecture on visionary experience, the album explores themes such as spiritual enlightenment, death and the afterlife, and man's kinship and subsequent alienation from the universe. The album is essentially atmospheric black metal with Cascadian influences, especially from Wolves in the Throne Room. The best track is probably “Theophany”, slow, feral, funeral but very enthralling, but, as a whole, everything on the album is boosted by an excellent production. In short, great and highly recommended album.
 
Notes:
As We Were When We Were Not was released on May 13 2017 on Avantgarde Music.
 
Personnel:
Rich Speakman: Drums
Mike Midgley: Guitars
Danny Heaton: Vocals
Josh Danby: Guitars
Ol Jessop: Bass
 
Text by Herjann
herjann@unholyblackmetal.com