Few newcomers to the UK’s vastly talented heavy underground have managed to deliver so much from so little, but Sheffield, UK based blackgaze quintet HIDDEN MOTHERS have whet our appetites, pathing a mountain of hype and great potential based on one sole single, The Longest Journey Yet, and a handful of spectacular live shows supporting the likes of Blanket, Inter Arma, Wren, Coilguns and Planes Mistaken For Stars. Now following that initial fireworks display, Hidden Mothers have finally found their moment to unleash their highly anticipated self-titled debut EP, which is out now as a limited one-sided galaxy swirl vinyl and digital offering through emerging UK label Surviving Sounds. Available to purchase here.
“Hitting that sweet spot between heaviness, aggression and melody takes a high level of skill to achieve and the quintet have made it seem like a walk in the park.” ~ Distorted Sound Magazine, 9/10
“Hidden Mothers have a grand, clangorous sound somewhere between black metal and post-hardcore. If you’re into the bands who exist at those different intersection points — Deafheaven, Envy, Infant Island, Svalbard — then Hidden Mothers offer a whole lot to like.” ~ Stereogum
Hidden Mothers have delivered on the intensity of their live performances and then some, with a fiery and ferocious 3 track EP just shy of 20 minutes. This debut was captured at Manchester’s vibrant recording hotspot No Studio – Which has housed the likes of Ithaca, Wren and Conjurer – by producer and recording engineer Joe Clayton (Pijn, Leeched), mastered by Scott Middleton (Cancer Bats), with artwork by Steve Myles (Cattle). Far more than the sum of its parts, Hidden Mothers is a dynamic tour-de-force of emotive and textured post-black metal filtered through a screamo lens; a winding record with twists and turns, tugging from multiple influences and crafting them into one cohesive sound. Across these three hits of blackened, shoegazy post-hardcore, Hidden Mothers explore loss of life, loss of self-worth and loss of love respectively, resulting in a gripping and emotionally bludgeoning experience that will stay with you well after your record deck stops spinning.
“Frankly, It’s absolutely stunning that an emerging band with only handful of material can sound just as grandiose, originative and accomplished as this.” ~ Noizze, 9/10
FFO: MOL, Envy, Deafheaven, Oathbreaker, Black Peaks.
Music and lyrics by Hidden Mothers.
Produced, recorded and mixed by Joe Clayton at No Studio, Manchester.
Mastered by Scott Middleton. Artwork by Steve Myles.
