Everybody should have at least one memory that one will forever relate to music. I, for one, have a lot of memories that will always remind me of a certain genre, artist, album or song. If I am correct, one of the most beautiful experiences with music I ever had, was in 2006. It was a sunny and warm sunday in early summer. Some of my friends had decided to drive to Belfort, in France, to see Muse headline the Eurockeennes festival. The location of the festival site could not be any better. A slender grass hill, with the main stage at the bottom, trees, tents, a little stage directly on a sandy beach. The smell of herbal cigarettes all around us, we spent the first few hours dossing about. Art Brut played in front of us, with clouds of dust rising steadily. Islands played a wonderful indie set all dressed in white. Some electro trash two-piece shredded the stage at the beach. But we were really just waiting for Muse. All that summer daze made us completely happy in excitement for the main act. But there was too much time to kill. Without having heard much more about the band we were about to see, than their name, we entered the tent stage and sat down. As the band entered the stage, we were all standing in a packed out venue. No microphone was placed in the center of the stage, all just instruments and effect pedals. When the first notes silently echoed around us, we were immediately mesmerized. About five minutes later, the band was still in their opening song, but it had turned a few little notes into the loudest goddamn wall of sound I had ever seen (and it still has not been topped to this day). The band on stage did not need any words. The band we were lucky enough to witness was called Mogwai.
You might wonder what this story about Mogwai has to do with the release of an album by a band called Light Bearer. The obvious similarity would be the origin. Both come from the British Islands. But while Mogwai are Scots through and through, the latter hail from London. You could also take a look at the length of their songs. The London six-piece only manage to finish one song in under 10 minutes, whit two songs scraping the 20-minute mark – somewhat similar to the Glasgow quintet. Musically speaking, both bands build their songs on simple melody lines that culminate to powerful walls of sound. But that is it with similarities.
There are moments on this record, when the tension seems unbearable. 
The desperation in the vocals seems within spitting distance. The music keeps an incredible array of emotions. The melodic parts work perfectly fine as a means for taking a breath. They also help to cope with the emotions evoked by the interplay of loud, dissonant guitars, crashing drums and screamed vocals. It seems like the only logical way to digest the magnitude of what is happening in these six songs. What I love about this record is that it takes all the craftsmanship of building tension, that Mogwai also use and combine it with post-hardcore/-metal vocals and intensity. And that is just unbeatable.
So back in France, when I witnessed Mogwai’s sound ploughing through a motionless crowd, it struck me. I was thinking that this band needed a brutal vocalist that pours his guts out. Light Bearer do just that. I love them for it. I’ve been searching for this perfect combination for some while now. With Silver Tongue I think, I might have found it. This album is fully recommended!
You can buy the record for as much money as you like via the band here.
But I would also recommend great label Moment of Collapse from Hamburg. They put the album out on CD and double Vinyl which you can buy here. Support independent music!
