Starmonger – Occultation

 

 

Starmonger – Occultation
Interstellar Smoke Records – 2024
Rock, Desert, Stoner, Psych
Rated:

If you are reading this Stoner HiVe review, I know that we are kindred spirits with a love of the heavy underground and all the variety of acts, artists, and blends of genres it provides us. Day after day there is a buffet of new music to ingest, but occasionally, something or someone profoundly different crosses your palate. One such band would be Starmonger. They blend multiple genres that we are familiar with, but with a unique mix and sound that is all their own.

One of the reasons the band has a different sound are the vocals of vocalist/guitarist Arthur Desbois, they truly stand out and were the first thing I noticed. Here on Occultation, they span from carefully laid out medium ranged plateaus to more operatic high altitudes as he bellows out above the progressive stoner structured instrumentation. He is not the only one on vocal duty however as all members contribute to the microphone. When the extra layers of vocal harmonies hit and come together, they pierce through the atmosphere making the hairs on your arms stand up.

As far as Starmonger’s sound goes I guess you could pigeon-hole them into heavy psych, stoner, and doom, had you needed to, but there are more underlying things at play looking under the microscope. For one thing the progressive elements are undeniable, complicated structures and time changes fill Occultation, with the album being skillfully built around them. There is also an uplifting theatrical tone to the album, one that touches the very core of the listener. Combining this with the arrangements makes Occultation an album that I can only describe as epic!

With various forementioned time signatures you must have a strong- and open-minded timekeeper upon the throne, drummer Seb Antoine fills these qualifications with elaborate fills and a steady pace when need be. Bassist Mathias Friedman accompanies the heartbeat with his own complex parts, basslines that are amazing and perfectly situated, as he balances time between the rhythm section and as a rhythm part behind the guitar. Arthur is also talented at guitar, whether it is a riff, chords, or impressive lead parts. Theres also the knowledge of knowing when not to play and use the space within the progressions to allow for the bigger picture to unfold.

Starmonger has formulated a saga with multitudes of layers to be peeled and is truly a testament to what three guys, their instruments, their aspirations, and vision can accomplish. To my ears, that accomplishment is a magnificent victory with Occultation.

(Written by Jon McGough)

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