Snowman - “The Horse, the Rat and the Swan” Review
Snowman . The Horse, the Rat and the Swan . 2008. 4 stars .
I followed a glowing Pitchfork Media review to land on Snowman’s Myspace page, and despite the shrill, abrasive noise that greeted me there, I couldn’t turn away from it. My first reaction to Perth Australia’s Snowman was both of shock and admiration. They’ve managed to take some of the snarliest, sickest and most disturbing post-punk sounds imaginable and give them an infectious, surf-inspired spin.
Their sound can be poorly described as the spooky artiness of Liars mixed with the Gothic industrial sounds of Coil. Even some traces of New York’s avant-noise scene slip in here, with some of the bleaker psychedelic passages reminding me of early Swans (White Light, Children of God). Far from being a mere encyclopedia of rock’s darker corners, Snowman is compellingly original, with foot-stomping darkwave grooves pounding behind psychotic vocals and eerie guitar work. Despite the gritty asylum atmosphere haunting the whole affair, this album is surprisingly accessible, as the songs are direct and full of alternative hooks to keep them focused. "We are the Plague" shows the band’s tight cohesion between punishing beats and fractured melodies. Other moments verge even closer on the side of madness, with songs like "The Gods of the Upper House" sounding like clamors from a bloody horror film kitchen.
Whether they are hell-bent on laying down powerful post-punk rhythms, or dabbling in the rolling ambient of tracks like "The Blood of the Swan", Snowman offers a highly defined, profound and menacing listening experience. Its steady arrangements and pacing will also keep you on your toes throughout. Like any good, sinister work of art, The Horse, the Rat and the Swan grows on you over time. If I wasn’t so keen on getting this review up here, I might wait to give this a 4.5. But oh, well - this is good, scary stuff thats sure to be generating some critical praise as it finds its way across the globe.
Snowman - We Are The Plague
December 4th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
[…] Snowman. The Horse, the Rat and the Swan. Full Review. Their sound can be poorly described as the spooky artiness of Liars mixed with the Gothic […]