REVIEW & VIDEO PREMIERE: Close The Hatch - "VI" (EP)

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 29/09/2017

Label: Red Moth LLC

“VI” is another impressive release from Close The Hatch that explores the boundaries between post rock, noise rock and sludge in distinct and captivating fashion. Hopefully it will gain the band the wider acclaim they truly deserve.

“VI” CD//DD track listing:

1). Purgatory

2). II

3). III

4). The Art of Knowing

5). Little Did He Know

6). VI

The Review:

Close The Hatch continue to develop their intriguing brand of muscular post metal on new EP “VI”. The Ohio quartet’s 2016 EP “Death And Resistance” was a tantalising fusion of post rock atmosphere and super-dense sludge condensed into focused mini epics. Over the course of “VI”, the band refines this sound to perfection and reach new heights of spaced-out heaviness.

“Purgatory” begins with chiming guitars that craft an ambience reminiscent of Russian Circles in their quieter moments. The mood is soon shattered by an avalanche of filthy distortion and a full-throated guttural roar. As the track progresses it shifts between massive angular riffs and swathes of dirty fuzzed-out melody that bring to mind an unbeatable alliance between Sumac and Deftones.

Throughout “VI” Close The Hatchutilise this quiet/loud dynamic to devastating effect. The band manages to negotiate these sonic manoeuvres in an interesting way and avoid obvious slow-building crescendos but still make sure every riff hit home hard. The pummelling noise-rock rumble that erupts from the ominous calm of the central section of “The Black Art Of Knowing” is a particularly fine example of this. Even when the band head into more obvious epic territory on the seven minute title track they maintain their identity helped by the addition of some guest vocals.

“VI” is another impressive release from Close The Hatch that explores the boundaries between post rock, noise rock and sludge in distinct and captivating fashion. Hopefully it will gain the band the wider acclaim they truly deserve.  Check out the brand new and exclusive for their devastating hymn "Purgatory" below

Band info: bandcamp || facebook