Hark
Machinations
(Season of Mist)
Oh the angels sing! Rising from the ashes of Taint (yes, really), Hark is the new band from Jimbob Isaac, the vocalist for the former Welsh sludge band Taint. His new band carries on the sludge sound, though on Machinations, things get a bit more classic rock infused. Hark sound more like they want to play the original Woodstock than they have an interest in being hailed as the next Mastodon, and the psychedelic and retro-rock angle is a smart choice for the Welsh group. At its best, Machinations is a real treat, with wah-pedal licks so thick you can practically smell the pungent air in the studio sessions.
Thankfully, Hark prefer to keep things more driving and engaged than most of the Woodstock crowd, as their sludge rock has some High on Fire and Baroness strains. Their guitar work is top-notch, and the rhythm section does its best to keep up (the bass is often absent, unfortunately). Where the record is held back is most peculiar, considering where Hark got its start: founding member Jimbob Isaac. His vocals are, in theory, perfect for the music: gritty, impassioned, and somewhat melodic. However, in practice, they come across as borderline unlistenable frequently. The guy tries to carry a tune, with a pitched yell that is poorly done. When the music slows down, he can help augment the mood, but Isaac’s vocals are a real pockmark on an otherwise enjoyable record. Also of note, the band’s songwriting can get a bit stale at times, especially in the nine-minute closer, which is four minutes too long. It’s a shame that these two issues mar what could be a solid dose of sludge rock, but Hark’s sophomore album ends up just being great for those looking for their next Clutch/High on Fire fix but not up to those bands’ standards.
