The River – A Hollow Full of Hope
Release Date: 30th June 2023
Label: Cavernous Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Pastoral Post Doom
FFO: Low, 40 Watt Sun, The Gathering, Against Nature.
Review By: Mark Waight
The River have been around since 1999 and although their brand of Post Doom Metal may have slipped under the radar of many (including myself) A Hollow Full of Hope will go some way to redress that matter and attract new listeners to the fold. A Hollow Full of Hope is The Rivers fourth full-length album and is comprised of five lovely, atmospheric and inspiring pieces of music that all have a tale to tell.
The River is Jenny Newton (Vocals and Guitars), Stephen Morrissey (Bass), Christian Leitch (Guitars) and Jason Ludwig (Drums).
The beautiful and acoustic, Fading, softly and gently meanders along with a sweet melody to accompany dreamy vocals. The track burns slowly, pulling in piano and vocal harmonies to elevate the richness of the track, until all that’s left is just piano and acoustic guitar. This is chilled out, end of the day mood music that really hits the spot.
Exits is an altogether much darker song with a deeper and heavier riff that draws you in and captivates your mind. The vocals are still dreamy and warm, but with more of an edge to them that absolutely compliments the track and completely mirrors it.
The laid-back sound of Tiny Ticking Clocks is as subtle as it is mesmerising as it brings you down and holds you there throughout. The River just make everything sound so simple and uncomplicated when the musical arrangements are anything but.
Once again, we are taken back to something a little darker and moodier with A Vignette, its slow doom-laden pace conjures up images of black storm clouds brewing ominously in the distance and threatening menacingly to consume us. Halfway through, the pace picks up and beams of light appear through the darkness to bring hope of better days ahead.
Final track, Hollowful is a truly delightful and serenely peaceful piece of instrumental music that brings the album to a neat and restful close.
Even the biggest caffeine consuming monsters cannot fail to be chilled out and relaxed after listening to A Hollow Full of Hope by The River. A Hollow Full of Hope is the kind of album that everyone can and will interpret in their own individual way, enabling all listeners to really get something out of it.
At the end of a hard and busy day or week, listening to A Hollow Full of Hope is sure to be well received as a great way to relax and de-stress. The River were new to me when I was given A Hollow Full of Hope to review, but from now they will be definitely be on my radar for future releases.
(4 / 5)
