MOUNTAIN CALLER already secured their place as one of the UK's most exciting progressive bands with their 2020 debut Chronicle I: The Truthseeker, its scintillating blend of doom, post-rock and sheer riffs-per-minute energy capturing the imagination of the metal underground. In fact, it was so well received that the trio were snapped up by Church Road Records, with the band spending the next few years studiously crafting its follow-up. The aptly-named Chronicle II: Hypergenesis is, in every way, a step up on its predecessor; bigger, bolder and simply more of the brilliance MOUNTAIN CALLER bring to bear.
Even at just six songs, Chronicle II feels like an odyssey, with its conceptual narrative continuing the story of The Protagonist directly where the end of The Truthseeker left off. Daybreak feels like a perfect continuation of it; a dreamy lead opening into a stoner-inspired riff that at its midway point lumbers to a full gallop that pulls as much from classic metal tropes as it does shimmering post-rock. As the band have told it, it represents the Protagonist embarking on the next step of her quest, which she finds in the the Archive, explored through The Archivistand Dead Language.
The former is a sprawling MASTODON-meets-ELDER prog epic that takes in the sights, exploring The Archive and its floating island and backwards waterfalls (as described by the trio) before Dead Language shows us the Protagonist cracking the code of an ancient tongue. The band do this expertly; bassist El Reeve once more sings, though rather than on The Truthseeker that utilised a repeating phrase with small changes, here there are a full set of lyrics exploring the Protagonist's inner world. Not only that, but polyrhythms move and shift against each other in a swirl of confusion as she works to decipher the runes.
The resolution to this is ingenious; the polyrhythms resolve as drummer Max Maxwell lays down a euphoric disco groove that speaks of nothing but joy at the breakthrough. What's apparent, even only halfway through Hypergenesis, is just how much MOUNTAIN CALLER have come on from already strong beginnings, and how phenomenally well they tell stories using almost entirely instrumental means. With Into The Hazel Woods, they conjure the wonders of nature through reverb-drenched guitar, Claire Simson showcasing an affinity for arresting leads as much as gurn-inducing riffs.
Across 40 minutes, MOUNTAIN CALLER have managed to not only create soundscapes of epic proportions, but ones that masterfully evoke an entire world of their own devising. The Protagonist's journey is writ large across these six songs, the trio pulling their influences and amalgamating them into something wholly their own. The musical camaraderie is clearly audible too; you can practically hear them grinning while playing, with a sense of joy that flows from the speakers. In short? Chronicle II: Hypergenesis is astounding, corralling everything from post-rock, sludge, doom, prog and more into a high fantasy package that's overflowing with character and sheer musical joy.
Rating: 9/10
Chronicle II Hypergenesis - Mountain Caller
Chronicle II: Hypergenesis is set for release on January 26th via Church Road Records.
