Feather Mountain – To Exit A Maelstrom
Release Date: 2nd September 2021
Label: Self Released
Bandcamp
Genre: Progressive Metal
FFO: Etre, Avandra, Tool, A Perfect Circle.
Review By: Hillary Wisniewski
Combining heaviness and airy elements, Danish quartet Feather Mountain formed in 2017 by the brothers Andreas (bass and growl/backing vox) and ChristianDahl-Blumenberg (drums) alongside Mikkel Aaen Lohmann (vocals). In 2018 the line-up was cemented with the addition of Jens Baalkilde Anderson (guitar and backing vox). Their debut album, Nidus, was released a year later. Seeking to delve into complex subject matter through their music, Feather Mountain created their sophomore work To Exit A Maelstrom which explores “…the loss of a close family member to a disease, which as Alzheimers slowly dissolves a human being, its personality, memories and language and ultimately transforms the familiar into something alien. As the album title suggests, the illness can be perceived as being caught in a maelstrom, where one is swallowed by unrejectable, external incoming circumstances beyond personal control finally leading you to drown and be devoured by the chaos. It is also an album about fighting one’s way out as a relative, up from the maelstrom, to heal one’s wounds and return to life with new perspectives, which are undeniably delivered to those, who once stood on the bottom and gazed upwards.”
The musicianship on this album is impressive; it is teeming with intricate guitar work, complex rhythm, gorgeous vocals, and thoughtful lyrics. For me, the beginning and end tracks of this work highlight the strengths and diversity of Feather Mountain. August Mantra features a combination of heavy riffs coupled with the type of guitar flourishes that fans of progressive metal will appreciate. Anderson is a well-rounded player, and the tones he achieves fit the overall feel of this record and the thematic elements. The talent of Christian Dahl-Blumenberg is on full display throughout this work; the fusion of traditional drumming along with more primitive sounds adds depth to this track. Andreas Dahl-Blumenberg is the right man for the job when it comes to keeping up with his brother; he holds things down on the low end quite well. Singer Lohmann lulls listeners with his crooning, smooth vocals, which at times are reminiscent of Maynard James Keenan. To be honest, when I listened through this the first time, I immediately thought of A Perfect Circle and Tool. That isn’t to detract from Feather Mountain’s work, but I would be remiss not to bring up the similarities.
Maelstrom is a sullen listen which touches upon the eventual loss of oneself to an illness that creates confusion and shatters the illusion that we can and will control our fate. It is a grieving song in the aspect that there is sadness, but also the understanding we can learn to live within the context of loss. I was greatly moved by this track in particular; the transitions throughout capture the myriad of emotions involved in relation to the subject matter. No shame here in saying it moved me to tears.
The album as a whole features interesting elements including piano, grooving bass riffs, blast beats, and even use of random noise and sound. If one did not know there was an overall theme it would be easy to dismiss this work as incredibly disjointed because, quite honestly, at times it can be. But in order to push listeners to feel and experience what the band intended, it wouldn’t make sense for the work to be a cohesive listen. At times I felt somewhat confused and irritated by some of the shifts in these tracks, but it helped me to get into a mental place to really connect with this work. Anyone who has witnessed a loved one decline due to Alzheimer’s or dementia will understand the emotion conveyed throughout To Exit A Maelstrom. Watching as someone is slowly robbed of themselves, their memories, and, in many cases, basic functions is a painful and traumatic experience. There is a deep grieving involved for those bearing witness to this type of gradual loss. Personally I would like to thank Feather Mountain for their willingness to share this experience with listeners and I hope that others can find some sort of solace in this work. 
(4 / 5)
