White Hills - So You Are...So You'll Be

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 14 / 10 / 2013

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Review

So You Are…So You’ll Be’ is the seventh full album by a band that doesn't sit still long enough for the grass to grow. The group are a New York-based trio which consists of guitarist Dave W, bassist Ego Sensation and drummer Nick Name on drums. In their eight year history, they have not only done seven full albums, but they have released live albums, split 7 inches, tour only albums and toured pretty much all the time. ‘So You Are...’ carries on their space rock journey, and, a concept album of sorts, opens with ‘Phase 1 (So You Are)’, which begins with what sounds like a conversation between C3PO and R2D2 from‘Star Wars’ before the riffs kick right in. ‘In Your Room’ kicks the doors not only open, but right off the hinges. It recalls the Pixies at their loudest, and as it grows louder it adds a touch of metal to its nu-psychedelic sound. This whole track shadows the greatness of the late Jimi Hendrix. ‘The Internal Monologue’ is cinematic, an instrumental that glows like a fresh movie before your very eyes. The title track is a perfect blend of Loop-like guitar and Stooges passion. Its second half is like liquid cinema, with enough scary moments to scare you senseless. It is very different for the band. ‘Forever in Space (Enlightened) ‘is science fiction-influenced, keyboard-based oddness, with heavy bass from Ego, which kick in with the meanest guitar riff the best side of the Stooges. Dave W’s vocals here may not be the best, but this is head banging music for Stooges fans. ‘Rare Upon the Earth’ is again sci fi-influenced, almost like the soundtrack to a Dario Argento/ John Carpenter film. When the band kick in with their guitars, it is like a hurricane has hit town, and there is nowhere to hide. ‘Circulating’ is an instrumental mood-based piece of the David Lynch variety. ‘Mist (Winter)’ ends the album, which does feature a John Carpenter sample. This is another explosive song which, while slightly more prog-influenced, has enough grit to carry the song home. A fine rocker of an album.

Track Listing:-

1 InWords
2 In Your Room
3 The Internal Monologue
4 So You Are… So You'll Be
5 OutWords
6 Forever in Space (Enlightened)
7 Rare Upon the Earth
8 Circulating
9 MIST (Winter)

Band Links:-

https://twitter.com/whitehillsmusic
http://whitehillsmusic.tumblr.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/WHITE-H

Label Links:-

http://www.thrilljockey.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ThrillJockey
https://twitter.com/thrilljockey