We Hunt Buffalo: Living Ghosts

Vancouver riffmongers take the panoramic view

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As the retro-doomy-stoner-proto-metal revival approaches suffocating density, more and more practitioners are infusing that uncluttered style with heroic technical complexities.

On their second full-length, We Hunt Buffalo follow a simpler blueprint, forging volleys of ginormous power riffs with kaleidoscopic fretwork, casting each of the nine tracks in a cinematic scale. While their debut suffered from porous song structures and scuffled mixing, Living Ghosts showcases a sharply expanded compositional outlook and taut, muscular production.

The opening trio of Ragnarök, Back To The River and Prairie Oyster initiate the saga with battering riffage, cyclopean basslines and bone-powdering tempos. The latter half expands into a psych-metal epic, with mid-tempo fare like Fear and Walk Again sending long, bluesy leads soaring above gauzey shoegaze textures. Expertly balancing concussive heaviness with trippy interludes, Living Ghosts is a satisfying post-metal voyage.

Joe Daly

Hailing from San Diego, California, Joe Daly is an award-winning music journalist with over thirty years experience. Since 2010, Joe has been a regular contributor for Metal Hammer, penning cover features, news stories, album reviews and other content. Joe also writes for Classic Rock, Bass Player, Men’s Health and Outburn magazines. He has served as Music Editor for several online outlets and he has been a contributor for SPIN, the BBC and a frequent guest on several podcasts. When he’s not serenading his neighbours with black metal, Joe enjoys playing hockey, beating on his bass and fawning over his dogs.