Heavy Hail is a delicious album. A sensory overload of everything you want, and the yet undiscovered. On my first listen I realised I don’t just want this in my ears, I need this.
In a nutshell, Heavy Hail has something for everyone. As clichéd as that sounds, it’s honest as hell. The former Wellingtonians, who have called Melbourne home for the past seven years have blown my mind with their layering mix of genres. You can hear elements of Electronica, Rock and Pop infused with melody. On that first listen, to my ever curious ears, I envision Stabbing Westwood meets Nine Inch Nails, an ambient dark delight but still encompassing beauty and depth while holding on to the originality and weirdly wonderful elements like bands such as British rockers, Alt J.
Vocalist, Sam Sproull has a monotonous brilliance to his voice and at times sounds uncannily similar to Shihad’s, John Toogood. Their first single released, Killer is stand-out infectious as the tracks progress, holding their own grounds of crunchy riffs, soothing beats and get up and go hooks that drive you back in for more.
Tracks such as Coincidence spell out something refreshing different that really sets Gatherer apart here. High Fives is another favourite that has the most compelling guitar riffs, ever and if you like a good beat you need to hang around until it finishes and reflect on what you just heard.
As the final track rings out, I feel satisfied but left in anticipation of the release of this monstrous gem that I can’t wait to share with everyone. For all Rock fans, you too need this album in your collection!
The first track from their debut full length album called So Be It, Regular Frontier establishes the Gatherer proclamation in honest clarity: growing up is a bit shit. Relocations are never easy, especially with a body of water separating the comforts of their home town Wellington, New Zealand to the reality of independence and opportunity offered in Melbourne, Australia. It was never going to be a relaxed transition, but it was imperative for the band to move into their next phase of existence.
On So Be It, Gatherer has drawn on a combination of life experiences and influences, cohesively blending the pop sensibilities of Nine Inch Nails, the genuine melodic rock of Cave-In and a hint of Converge/Isis inspired heaviness with the vocal rhythms and melody of Queen and Tears For Fears.
A wall of syncopated sound, coupled with strikingly unconventional rhythm, dynamics and harmonies take the Gatherer sound to a complete original aural spectrum. This, along with an honest approach to lyrical content, completes the Gatherer package.