Tallboy
House Of Glass (EP)
Self-Released
In terms of heavy music, it feels as if Northern England is undergoing a cultural renaissance with bands such as Malevolence and Our North stomping a path to the nation’s consciousness. Well, now you can add Tallboy to that list, an alt-metal crew from Cumbria who are not so much rewriting the rulebook as ripping it up and starting again. It’s an approach of which I very much approve and has given the band an exorbitant amount of freedom as they piece together seemingly disparate sounds to create a rich musical tapestry. Opening with some high octane drum ‘n’ bass, ‘Insomnia’ might initially throw some listeners into a tailspin, but the band soon enter more familiar territory with some groove laden metal. However, it’s indicative of the band’s approach; just when you think you’ve got them cornered, they veer off on some unexpected tangent. It’s never quite knowing what Tallboy will throw into the mix that makes this such an engaging experience and will effortlessly hold your attention of the course of five fluctuating tracks. With this crew on the scene the future of heavy music looks assured, and rather than being a fragile thing, Tallboy’s House Of Glass is built on solid foundations.
Review by Peter Dennis.