Kentucky

Black metal + bluegrass! Austin Lunn proves himself to be a black metal prodigy with this one-man band, very forward-thinking both musically and politically. This is a concept album about the plight of Appalachian coal miners and the land they tragically exploit for a paltry, polluted living. The bluegrass is standard fare but very good nonetheless; the metal is where he shows off his chops. Greate Laroque-esque neoclassical lead guitar fits seamlessly within the bursts of wintry bleakness, and the drumming is wildly energetic and creative. I’d hesitate to compare this to other folk-metal acts such as Kampfar, Taake, or Falkenbach, just because this is in a league of its own. Don’t miss out on this masterpiece! I highly recommend juxtaposing both genres for full effect, but please play this if you’re a fan of either genre—we’re here to support hardworking, brilliant independent artists like this guy. FCC clean.

1. (2:53) Instrumental, jaunty bluegrass with banjo, guitar and fiddle. Fades into…
2. (10:25)** Epic black metal with crescendos, flutes, the whole shebang with a nice folksy interlude that builds momentum before the metal comes back to annihilate, albeit with melancholy string-laden beauty.
3. (4:11)* Great banjo-driven tune about how much it sucks to be a coal miner. Poignant in a way only bluegrass can be. Ends with a disturbing sample from a documentary about the mining industry.
4. (10:04)*** Plodding, somber black metal march with some choral vocals thrown in. There’s a fantastic folksy bridge that samples an interview with a coal miner recounting a successful mining strike. Here the indignation and anger gives way to an uplifting message of solidarity.
5. (3:03) A rousing, stomping bluegrass anthem that demands to know “which side are you on?”
6. (12:19) Lightspeed black metal with some incredible two-handed guitar leads, epic harmonies. Amazing twin guitar bridge gives way to a somber post-rock bridge with another interview, and by the end we’re back to black metal with searing fiddle.
7. (4:56) some kind of ambient interlude with echoing choral washes, vocal chanting buried under layers of synth and guitar strumming; not at all interesting for airplay, but it adds conceptual coherence to the album
8. (3:24)** gorgeous plaintive bluegrass instrumental, mostly banjo-driven with some slide guitar melodies, HIGHLY recommended for any folk-oriented show