Upon Stone – Dead Mother Moon
Origin: San Fernando Valley, CA / USA
Release: 19.01.2024
Label: Century Media Records
Duration: 31:57
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Photo Credit: Steven Grise
After their thrilling single release Onyx through the Heart I was really looking forward to the boys from the golden west of the USA. The single promised a lot, as it presented Swedish melodic death with a certain freshness, which I also heard on Black Dahlia Murder’s debut and everyone who knows the scene knows what has become of this band.
Can it be another promising January in terms of releases? Can be the first album by Upon Stone meet my expectations after this fantastic single?
Riot with charm
In order not to keep you in suspense for long: A quadruple Hipp-Hip-Hurrah, Death Mother Moon is a blast. As with Onyx through the Heart The young Americans convince with their playful, hard-hitting melodic Death Metal of Swedish style. However, we are not talking about a clumsy copy of your Scandinavian role models.
No, they paint their own picture and bring fresh colors into play. For example, one might think Dusk Sang Fairest sound like an In-Flames clone. The band contradicts this with their powerful vocals, the snotty guitar riffs and the sense of creating a balance between brutality and harmony.
Search for rituals and magic set to music
This talent is particularly evident in their popular song and opener title track Dead Mother Moon out. The first time I listened to it, I was really nervous about the song. My thoughts were literally screaming: This is exactly what melodic death metal should sound like in the 2020s!
Take this, Arch Enemy. If you want to listen to this magnificent song, HERE to enjoy. You can hear the joy of playing in this death lead band and you can tell that they have been playing together since they were young and have prepared for this album.
A tailor-made debut
I’m also impressed by the variety of the album and the songs. The aforementioned first single release features both speedy guitar solos and hard-hitting black metal parts that are dripping with blood. Above all, the punk and hardcore elements, where the boys have their roots, always stand out.
That’s how groovy it is Paradise Failedwhere by the way Shadows Fall Shouter Brian Fair roars around as a guest singer, a homage to the great At the Gates. You can also create covers in your own style. With the Misfits classic Dig Up Her Bones wipe thoroughly once.
Conclusion
Upon Stone hang their laurels pretty high for the following albums. Death Mother Moon is a masterpiece of melodic death metal and a prime example of what a debut album should sound like. I don’t want to preheat the hype train here, but friends of the sun, these Californians have immense potential, which already comes to light with their first disc.
Racial 9 / 10
Line Up
Xavier Wahlberg – vocals, bass
Wyatt Bentley – drums
Ronny Marks – Gitarre
Gage Goss – guitar
Tracklist
01. Dead Mother Moon
02. Onyx Through the Heart
03. My Destiny; A Weapon
04. Dusk Sang Fairest
05. Paradise Failed ft Brain Fair of Shadows Fall
06. Nocturnalism
07. To Seek and Follow the Call of Lions
08. The Lantern
09. Dig Up Her Bones (Misfits cover)
Links
Instagram Upon Stone
Facebook Upon Stone
Also on Soundmagnet.eu
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