When a band’s said influences include Deftones, Glassjaw and Reuben to name a few, it’s bound to cause intrigue. With a distinct progressive alt-rock sound which carries mathy, hardcore infusions, fresh faces Toy Mountains are sure to cause more than a stir with their second EP ‘I Swore I’d Never Speak of This Again’.
The EP kicks off with ‘Hard Done By’ which introduces the personal themes that resonate through the lyricism of the record. With lines like “I’m not the man the mother thought I’d be” and “I’ll never be what you need me to be”, this makes for an emotion-packed three minutes. After the first track’s burst of energy comes the fluidity of ‘Piano Interlude’, which does as the name says and makes for a reflective and tender break.
‘Full Circle’ builds the emotional momentum with the clashing of passionate, piercing screams and flowing but assertive clean vocals. Despite being just two minutes long, the range in vocals and melodic guitar lines cement this track as a firm standout.
The math-rock influences become most evident in ‘Old Friends’ with its multiple moments of disjointed, intricate guitar licks. Penultimate song ‘Everything Ends’ is a mixture of Dillinger Escape Plan-esque chaos one minute and melodic bursts the next. ‘Sight Reading’ is a lengthy, melancholic conclusion; delicate piano followed by slow guitar strums and incredibly poignant lyrics, which build up to a final alt-rock crescendo.
‘I Swore I’d Never Speak of This Again’ is an experimental but remarkably consistent EP. With the passion, raw emotion and genuine instrumental ability the Glasgow quartet possess, Toy Mountains are quite possibly going to be your new favourite band. Alongside that, this record will definitely be making it onto the long list of 2016’s finest releases. Nailed it.
4.5/5
‘I Swore I’d Never Speak of This Again’ by Toy Mountains is released on November 25th on Crooked Noise Records.
Toy Mountains links: Facebook|Twitter|Bandcamp
Words by Phoebe Messenger (@pjmessenger)
