A brand new release from Mountain Climer brings on an edgy and rowdy cross between post-punk and a gritty rock style that all comes with a very particularly brandished element of character that makes these guys incredibly fun along with just the feel of a group of people that have a pure love for their craft.
The Let the Blood Flow EP comes in swinging with a killer attitude and a fierce Sonic guitar tone that has a way of engulfing you and keeping you right where it wants to.
Right off the bat you get this outstanding energy that's captured on the recording making it almost feel like it was done live on the floor as the players seem to feed off of each other's energies the entire time.
Of course, I might be wrong about the process but either way it really makes you want to see these guys live in your face because that would be unreal.
There is this element of late 90s underground tonality that flows through the veins of this release and the whole thing has a massive drive to it.
One of my favorite aspects about this whole thing is that bass tone and how in classic post-punk style, it's used to really be the backbone of these pieces of music.
The attitude and rowdiness comes in with the vocals and it is done with such an authentic aesthetic that in a way it almost hits a nostalgic feeling.
What's also incredibly fun about these guys is that this EP is three songs and within that spectrum, you get a great idea of their approach and songwriting styles and how they can vary bit by bit.
There's a sort of innocent fierceness about these songs and how they're performed as the delivery is full of gusto and feels really good to crank loud.
The final track on the EP is this sort of ballad that still keeps to this semi-gothic undertone and utilizes more digital spread instrumentation-wise but showcases the band's ability to create with fewer boundaries than those who came before.
It's also really great to hear a record that has surprises lurking around the corners and while it hints at a slight darkness at its edges, still manages to come through with this pop catchiness on most songs.
These are the kinds of songs that stick with you and have a way of bouncing around in your head for hours after they've ended which is only satiated by playing them again.
With the release of such a well-woven EP, we wanted to have a sit-down with Mountain Climer to find out where this came from, what may have influenced it, and what might be coming up next for the band.
Here's what happened.
Buzz Slayers: Okay, let's start with the Let the Blood Flow EP! This record had an edgy post-punk undertone with a perfect attitude and a classic feel! How did this EP come about?
2022's I'm Not Enough & That's Okay could have been called Unfinished Business. It was my first solo project and my first self-recorded project, so I was putting to bed some musical things that went back to the 90s and I was learning to record in the process. It allowed me to work with Bill Stevenson as a mixer and Jason Livermore to master it, but I closed that chapter with that record. So, when that was done, for the first time in my life, I was writing just to write. I had no project to work on, no band to bring the songs to and, for the first time in my musical life, I allowed myself to experiment. As much as I grew up in the punk scene and am still influenced by a lot of punk, my biggest influences over the last decade or more are guys like Nick Cave, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Depeche Mode, The Smiths and The Cure. I think these influences are obviously coming to the surface more now than ever before.
Buzz Slayers: How did this all start for you as a band? When did you all get together?
This is completely a one man endeavor until Travis Dolan at Level 32 Studio in Denver polishes my mixes and masters it for me. I write, record and perform solo. At least on this EP, I may have some help in the future! I've been playing guitar since about 1991 and been writing songs ever since I learned a power chord. I played in bands and toured from about 1994 to 2014.
Buzz Slayers: What kind of things really inspire songs for you?
Overall, it can be anything. Great works of art, whether that be paintings, novels or movies, can sometimes inspire me to create something out of the emotions they give me. But most of the time, it's life. I stopped drinking in August of 2021 and I wasn't prepared for the depression that followed. I spent a lot of time in my studio with the lights off, sitting at the piano or with a guitar trying to make sense of things and a lot of songs naturally flowed from that. These are the first three from that pretty big batch of tunes.
Buzz Slayers: This EP has some great styles on it! Can you give us some of your biggest influences musically?
In addition to the bands I mentioned previously, I would have to list the Sex Pistols, PiL, Oasis, Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, the Gun Club, Stereophonics and Deadmau5 to name just a few.
Buzz Slayers: What are you doing when you're NOT working on music?
My day job, running Four Lane Road Media, being a husband and father, taking my daughter to hockey practice and either watching or playing hockey. I also build a backyard ice rink in the winter time every year.
Buzz Slayers: Who's in all your headphones right now?
Last thing I listened to besides the 32 Thoughts podcast is The Jesus and Mary Chain's Automatic.
Buzz Slayers: Are you guys doing any live performances right now?
I don't have a band at the moment, and historically, I haven't loved to play live, but I am certainly open to it if the opportunity presents itself. I don't think I've played live in almost 10 years except family get togethers.
Buzz Slayers: Did you record yourself or hit a big studio for this?
This was recorded completely at home, then mixed and mastered by Travis Dolan at Level 32 Studio. I've recorded at Track Record Studios, Kitten Robot Studios and worked with the Blasting Room, but nothing beats being able to work at your own pace without the meter running!
Buzz Slayers: What can your fans expect from you in the near future?
There will be another Mountain Climer EP in the fall and, by the end of 2023, two EPs from my side project with dbcooper.
Buzz Slayers: Before we go, what would you like to say to fans of the music?
First and foremost, thank you. I enjoyed making it, it warms my heart anytime I hear that someone enjoys what I do. Particularly now, I pour my heart and soul into this and spend a huge amount of time doing it, so every single bit of love I receive is appreciated more than you know. And for that matter, I even enjoy the haters because at least they're paying attention!!!