A split EP to introduce two new bands to me – not too bad a way to meet them at all. A track of their own and a cover should provide plenty by way of a short introduction, right? I always worry a bit about covers, especially given that Moths are covering Black Sabbath – my favourite band – as my general feelings are generally of antipathy towards like for like covers, and I’d rather see someone do something different than just copy something. Time to take that first listen, then…
Let’s start with Moths, who use their two tracks on this EP to showcase their own track and to provide a cover of Black Sabbath’s ‘Hand of Doom’. ‘Intervention’ actually takes me a few listens to properly get it. While I can appreciate Damaris’s more ethereal vocal tone quite quickly, the growled backing is not generally my personal kind of thing and stands a bit at odds to the rest of the tone. Musically, it’s pretty enjoyable, layering in both softer and harder music elements quite well, even when heading off on their more chaotic tangent as they are want to do.
The cover does something I see as a bit strange – it both does a decent job of mimicking the original while still changing it up enough to be very much their own take on it, an approach that is actually quite refreshing. Their chaotic moments aren’t quite as welcome for me in this cover, but this is quite probably down to personal taste, rather than any fault with the band at all.
On to our second band in The Stone Eye, who have included a previously released track in ‘Presence Of The Mind’ and a cover of traditional folk track in ‘Wayfaring Stranger’. While the track seems to have been reworked, I’m kind of torn on it being released on a new EP split, given it has been around for four years already. The track itself is enjoyable, well written and has some great vocal harmonies, accompanied by quite hypnotic basslines – for me I would prefer to have something new on a split EP to showcase some bands and this does affect my enjoyment of this through frustration.
The cover is performed well and works well in their personal style, though I do not know the original well enough (bar a couple of listens online) to comment much more about this version compared to any others. I enjoyed their two tracks a bit more from both artists here, but am drawn back to the fact that the original song is four years old.
Overall, it’s an enjoyable EP, even if some moments on it are not quite to my personal liking. The musicianship is pretty good, vocals are mostly easy on the ear and the songs are enjoyable. MOTHS may take a couple of listens to properly appreciate, but it’s worthwhile when you get there, while The Stone Eye are pretty immediate in their approachability but leave you with the frustration of neither being a new original track with them. A mixture of frustration and enjoyment on the whole.
- The EP is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
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