Romance Of Young Tigers - Split Single
[Self Released]

Having blown open the battened-down hatches of an infamously cliquey post-rock movement with their spectacular I Have Supped Full of Horrors debut, Romance of Young Tigers’ two contributions to this split release with Ohio-based contemporaries Capital Hemorrhage are always going to be of more interest to most. While the latter’s sound is raw, jagged and vicious (“To Concrete” literally sounds as if the whole band have fallen down a lift shaft whilst rehearsing), it’s The Tigers’ slow-shifting sound that, once again, hogs the limelight.

“18841890” finds the band digging deeper into the territories outlined in their previous “Marie Ep” outing introducing this number with a volley of thunderous guitar dipped in fierce feedback that totally overwhelms the senses. An underlying spectral melody provides a tranquil contrast, while this track moves in waves, much like a mammoth storm. The awesome, all-consuming sound simply bulldozes all that’s in front of it.

Their second piece, like an Olympic relay runner, promptly picks up the baton, launching into the next event with suitable aplomb. “18901900” may start with tentative washes of glockenspiel but it’s not long before the band are traveling skywards via the depths of the ocean utilising a slow-motion orchestra of melodic, distorted guitars. The sound generated seemingly containing all the force of an avalanche.

What is clear, as the Tigers travel further away from their initial post-rock roots, is that they have created a sound that is totally esoteric and unique, with the band moving closer to something like Tangerine Dream than Mogwai. It must be quite something to witness live.

*As a little footnote to this release, Romance of Young Tigers has once again gone all out with the artwork design and packaging aspects. This split release is available in cassette tape only and is housed in an exquisite hand-printed DVD case.

Tracklisting:

Capital Hemmorhage - From Soil
Capital Hemmorhage - To Concrete
Romance of Young Tigers - 18841890
Romance of Young Tigers - 18901900